This is an example of family-style housing at Naval Weapons Station Earle. Local officials are fighting a plan to open up Earle housing to the general public. Photo by Joseph Sapia
By Joseph Sapia
COLTS NECK – Frustrated with the idea of opening housing on Naval Weapons Station Earle to the general public, local officials are hoping U.S. Rep. (R-NJ) Chris Smith can secure a meeting with top Navy officials to halt the plan.
In a Tuesday, Oct. 18, letter to Assistant Secretary of the Navy Dennis V. McGinn, Smith wrote, “The proposal is fraught with security concerns, as well serious challenges to local systems, …despite the fact that security at our bases has proven to be even more challenging in the last several years.”
Various local officials – from state Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-11) to officials in Colts Neck, the part of the base where the housing is located, and Tinton Falls, which provides pubic elementary schooling to children living at Earle – continue to cite the same concerns as Smith over security and costs.
The local officials expressed more frustration after they attended a private meeting Tuesday with Capt. Jay Steingold, Earle’s commanding officer; Navy representatives from the Mid-Atlantic region, based in Norfolk, Virginia; and representatives of Balfour Beatty Communities-Northeast Housing, the private company that operates the family-style housing at Earle.
The local officials expressed more frustration after they attended a private meeting Tuesday with Capt. Jay Steingold, Earle’s commanding officer; Navy representatives from the Mid-Atlantic region, based in Norfolk, Virginia; and representatives of Balfour Beatty Communities-Northeast Housing, the private company that operates the family-style housing at Earle.
They said they thought the meeting would include officials higher up the Navy chain. Local officials complained the meeting did not advance a first meeting, held Sept. 19.
“There was unanimous consent that this is an extremely bad idea,” said Tinton Falls Mayor Gerald M. Turning. “We think it’s unsafe, not thought out. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“As far as the meeting was concerned, it was a big disappointment,” said Lillian G. Burry, a member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and a Colts Neck resident.
“Much of this was repetitive of our first meeting,” said Beck, adding officials attending were “angry and stunned. It’s just incomprehensible they think this is a good idea.”
Besides Beck, Burry and Turning, officials attending Tuesday’s meeting included the five-member Colts Neck Township Committee, and representatives of Smith’s office and the Tinton Falls and Colts Neck boards of education. Tinton Falls now educates 75 students, in kindergarten through 8th grade, from the base, while the Freehold Regional High School District educates 11 students at Colts Neck High School, according to Earle.
But Steingold defended Tuesday’s meeting, saying it was not meant to be a decision-making meeting.
“It was always declared to be an informational meeting,” Steingold said. “The briefing specifically targeted security.”
“We understand the (community) concerns, we’ve been doing this for 75 years without incident,” said William Addison, an Earle spokesman, in reference to Earle’s beginning in 1943.
The federal Department of Defense opened military base housing rentals to the general public in 1996, with Earle taking part in the agreement since 2004, according to Earle officials. However, no members of the general public have ever rented at Earle over those last 12 years, according to Earle, and local officials have expressed ignorance of the 2004 agreement.
Earle and the local officials both say they will have to see what comes of Smith’s request. Beck said her office hopes to have an open meeting on the issue, to keep the public apprised, in the next two weeks, but Steingold said he was unaware of a planned meeting.
“There was unanimous consent that this is an extremely bad idea,” said Tinton Falls Mayor Gerald M. Turning. “We think it’s unsafe, not thought out. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“As far as the meeting was concerned, it was a big disappointment,” said Lillian G. Burry, a member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and a Colts Neck resident.
“Much of this was repetitive of our first meeting,” said Beck, adding officials attending were “angry and stunned. It’s just incomprehensible they think this is a good idea.”
Besides Beck, Burry and Turning, officials attending Tuesday’s meeting included the five-member Colts Neck Township Committee, and representatives of Smith’s office and the Tinton Falls and Colts Neck boards of education. Tinton Falls now educates 75 students, in kindergarten through 8th grade, from the base, while the Freehold Regional High School District educates 11 students at Colts Neck High School, according to Earle.
But Steingold defended Tuesday’s meeting, saying it was not meant to be a decision-making meeting.
“It was always declared to be an informational meeting,” Steingold said. “The briefing specifically targeted security.”
“We understand the (community) concerns, we’ve been doing this for 75 years without incident,” said William Addison, an Earle spokesman, in reference to Earle’s beginning in 1943.
The federal Department of Defense opened military base housing rentals to the general public in 1996, with Earle taking part in the agreement since 2004, according to Earle officials. However, no members of the general public have ever rented at Earle over those last 12 years, according to Earle, and local officials have expressed ignorance of the 2004 agreement.
Earle and the local officials both say they will have to see what comes of Smith’s request. Beck said her office hopes to have an open meeting on the issue, to keep the public apprised, in the next two weeks, but Steingold said he was unaware of a planned meeting.
“It’s up to the community leadership to address where to go next,” Steingold said.
Meanwhile, from the Navy’s end, according to Steingold, “I’m almost like the mayor of Earle. I think we have a good rapport (with the community). I think we work with our partners in the community, keep them educated (on base operations).”
Also, according to Steingold, Earle is moving forward to honor its agreement with Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing.
Earle has 89 family-style housing units within its fenced-in area, about 20 of which are unoccupied and are to be made available to the general public. The units, either single-family home-style or townhouse-style, generally have three or four bedrooms. They will rent at market price, or about $2,400 per month.
Meanwhile, from the Navy’s end, according to Steingold, “I’m almost like the mayor of Earle. I think we have a good rapport (with the community). I think we work with our partners in the community, keep them educated (on base operations).”
Also, according to Steingold, Earle is moving forward to honor its agreement with Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing.
Earle has 89 family-style housing units within its fenced-in area, about 20 of which are unoccupied and are to be made available to the general public. The units, either single-family home-style or townhouse-style, generally have three or four bedrooms. They will rent at market price, or about $2,400 per month.
The housing is rented first to active-duty military assigned to Earle, then to other active-duty military, military reservists and national guard members, Department of Defense civilian personnel and retired military – all with military or defense department identification.
If a home is vacant for 30 days, the agreement between Earle and Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing allows the units to be rented to the general public. In late summer, Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing notified the Navy it was interested in seeking general public tenants, according to Earle.
The potential renters would have to undergo Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing financial and background checks, followed by a Navy federal security check. Ultimately, the Navy has to OK a renter.
General public renters could be intermingled with the other renters in family-style housing. Of the 69 or so occupied units, renters are mostly active-duty military.
If a home is vacant for 30 days, the agreement between Earle and Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing allows the units to be rented to the general public. In late summer, Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing notified the Navy it was interested in seeking general public tenants, according to Earle.
The potential renters would have to undergo Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing financial and background checks, followed by a Navy federal security check. Ultimately, the Navy has to OK a renter.
General public renters could be intermingled with the other renters in family-style housing. Of the 69 or so occupied units, renters are mostly active-duty military.
Balfour Beatty-Northeast Housing did not reply to a request for comment.
Earle – which sits on 12,000 acres in Colts Neck, Tinton Falls, Middletown, Howell and Wall –stores and ships ammunition. Public renters would have free movement on the administrative area of the base; beyond that, security restrictions are layered on the base.
The base, which has approximately 245 active military assigned to it, is patrolled by a combination of Naval security with military-policing powers and private security guards without formal policing powers.
The U.S. Department of Defense began privatizing military base housing in 1996 – and, now, there are about 3,000 members of the general public living on bases around the country. Earle did not join the privatization program until 2004 – and, in those 12 years, has never had general public living on the base.
Unclear is if the agreement can be altered – for example, banning the general public from renting.
“I guess we’re going to find out,” Beck said. “We’ll fight this to the end.”
Beck also has written letters, seeking help on the matter, to Gov. Chris Christie, the State Police, the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Colts Neck has retained a lawyer, Brian J. Molloy of the Woodbridge firm of Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer, to follow the matter, said Colts Neck Deputy Mayor Michael Fitzgerald. Colts Neck used Molloy about 10 years ago when it won a similar case, fighting off plans for Earle to open up housing in the base’s Laurelwood section.
Earle – which sits on 12,000 acres in Colts Neck, Tinton Falls, Middletown, Howell and Wall –stores and ships ammunition. Public renters would have free movement on the administrative area of the base; beyond that, security restrictions are layered on the base.
The base, which has approximately 245 active military assigned to it, is patrolled by a combination of Naval security with military-policing powers and private security guards without formal policing powers.
The U.S. Department of Defense began privatizing military base housing in 1996 – and, now, there are about 3,000 members of the general public living on bases around the country. Earle did not join the privatization program until 2004 – and, in those 12 years, has never had general public living on the base.
Unclear is if the agreement can be altered – for example, banning the general public from renting.
“I guess we’re going to find out,” Beck said. “We’ll fight this to the end.”
Beck also has written letters, seeking help on the matter, to Gov. Chris Christie, the State Police, the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Colts Neck has retained a lawyer, Brian J. Molloy of the Woodbridge firm of Wilentz, Goldman and Spitzer, to follow the matter, said Colts Neck Deputy Mayor Michael Fitzgerald. Colts Neck used Molloy about 10 years ago when it won a similar case, fighting off plans for Earle to open up housing in the base’s Laurelwood section.
