By Joseph Sapia
MIDDLETOWN – The township Planning Board began hearing the Route 35 “Shoppes at Middletown” project, but little moved forward at the initial meeting other than the applicant presenting general plans for the approximately 340,000 square feet of commercial space.
John Orrico/Village 35 LP of Purchase, New York, is proposing the 338,455 square feet of retail, restaurant and movie theater spaces on about 52 acres of an approximately 118-acre tract on Route 35 north between Kings Highway East, Carriage Drive and Kanes Lane. The property is diagonally across Route 35 from the municipal complex and houses the iconic Calico the Clown sign.
At the Tuesday, June 1 meeting, the applicant’s planner, Paul Phillips, and engineer, Gerard Fitamant, laid out the basics.
Orrico was present, but declined comment to The Two River Times, saying he preferred to first present his project to the Planning Board and, in turn, to the public, rather than through the media.
The application is to continue before the planners at a special meeting dedicated to the project Wednesday, June 15. The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the municipal complex.
An application by Toll Brothers of Horsham, Pennsylvania, for residences on the remaining 66 acres of the 118-acre tract has been submitted to the Planning Board, but no hearing has been scheduled. Toll Brothers proposes 350 townhouses – 280 at market selling price and 70 government-designated affordable units – for the part of the property near Carriage Drive.
Audience members, of which there were about 100, were allowed to ask questions based on what had been presented, but were not allowed to testify at this point.
Outside of the meeting, various local residents raised concern over what happens on the 118 acres – which is owned by the local Azzolina-Scaduto family’s Mountain Hill LLC.
Debbie Sayre, 58, who has lived off Kings Highway East for more than 40 years, is opposed in general to both the commercial and residential aspects.
“We don’t need it,” Sayre said. “There’s too much development along this road (Route 35). You try to get out to 35 today and it can be difficult.”
Sayre also said people are concerned about the potential for overcrowded schools.
Tom Ronek, 69, who lives in the nearby Kings Landing condominiums, said he thought both the commercial and residential proposals were too big.
“I don’t think we need another massive (commercial) complex,” Ronek said.
As for the affordable housing component, Ronek said he did not see a need, saying there is already plenty affordable housing available.
Kevin Hughes, 53, of the Twin Brooks area, said he attended the meeting “to get a better understanding” of the commercial project.
“Traffic is a huge thing, a big issue,” Hughes said.
Hughes’ wife, Deborah, said their neighborhood is quiet, but traffic is already a concern.
The Shoppes at Middletown is before the Planning Board seeking preliminary and final major subdivision approval and site plan approval. The subdivision is necessary to divide the 52-acre commercial aspect from the tract’s remaining 66 acres.
Under the Planning Board’s General Development Plan (GDP) for the site, which was adopted last year, it allows up to 400,000 square feet of commercial use and up to 350 residential units with a 20-percent, or 70-unit, component for affordable housing.
Overall, the 118 acres would have 33 percent open space, or 3 percent more than is required by the GDP. This “open space” would include walking trails, but also wetlands and drainage ponds.
The residential and commercial aspects would be allowed to be built over 20 years.
The 118 acres has been the subject of various building applications over the last two decades, but none came to fruition.
