By Allison Perrine
Fair Haven Borough will soon go to bid for roadway improvements to a portion of Hance Road and Cooney Terrace, such as curbing and signage, but without sidewalks, as discussed Oct. 18.
FAIR HAVEN – After some back-and-forth on whether or not the borough should proceed with plans to bring sidewalks and other improvements to a portion of The Loop neighborhoods in town, residents and officials are meeting in the middle of the road.
During newly elected Mayor Joshua Halpern’s first formal council meeting Oct. 18, officials opted to authorize the borough engineer to go out for bid for roadway improvements along a portion of Hance Road and Cooney Terrace – without sidewalks – to several residents’ delight. Some of that work includes new curbing, marked crosswalks, partial road widening, pedestrian signage and adjusted parking regulations. “I very much appreciate the passion that the residents have shown for the place that they live. We heard you and listened to all of your voices and continue to consider all of them when trying to find the right compromise for the borough,” Halpern said at the start of the meeting. “It is important that the plan makes fiscal sense, ensures the safety of the most priceless asset we have, our people, and maintains the charm of the streets you love to call home.”
The topic of sidewalks in “the loop,” a one-mile walking destination made up of River Road, Grange Avenue, Cooney Terrace and Hance Road, has been contentious over the past several months. At the beginning of the summer some residents urged the council not to utilize an available $350,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation to install the sidewalks and related road improvements. While some openly supported it, others suggested it was unnecessary and could disturb the already safe neighborhoods. At least 100 residents signed petitions voicing opposition to the proposal. To get a better understanding of the various options that the borough could proceed with, professionals drafted five different plans the town could pursue to improve the roadway. Ideas ranged from doing nothing at all to implementing significant changes. By the end of a Sept. 8 meeting, officials were looking to go to bid for one of those options – with and without sidewalks for comparison. Not long after, that idea seemed to be quashed.
But at the Oct. 18 special meeting, Halpern announced that Fair Haven would proceed with proposed roadway improvements without sidewalks noting the grant could still be available. He made clear that this did not confirm that the borough would move forward with the project. He also noted that the borough would hire an arborist to conduct a “thorough review” of its “second most valuable asset,” its trees; recommend that the speed limit be lowered to 20 miles per hour in the sections of Hance Road and Cooney Terrace in question; limit parking to one side of the street; and improve the grading and drainage of the roads. “I am confident that we have found the right plan that has the right compromise by encompassing the wishes of our residents while keeping our roadways safe and remaining fiscally responsible,” Halpern added. “Once again, I would like to thank all of you for your consideration and your passion for this place we call home.”
During the public comment portion of the meeting, several residents expressed their approval of the latest decision, including Joe Calabro. He “applauds” the borough for taking out the issue of the sidewalks “which was so passionately opposed by many of us,” he said. Resident Bonnie Torcivia said one of her main concerns was the trees so she was “thrilled” to hear the borough would hire an arborist during this process. “At 44 Hance there is a large red oak that was just recognized by the state as the largest red oak in Monmouth County and the fourth in the state, and it’s right next to the curb. And when you said that all existing curbs will be replaced… I’m just a little worried about that tree because it’s right there and it really is magnificent,” she said. “I think that one of the things we have to just focus on a little bit is these big old trees; they’re getting cut down right and left.” Hance Road resident Marti Egger echoed a similar sentiment and said the decision to bring on an arborist “makes everybody feel really good.” Less than a week after being named mayor, Halpern made clear at the Oct. 18 meeting that he does not take the new position lightly. “As the Academy Awards took place in April, I read a story regarding ‘seat fillers’ as in people would sit in celebrity seats when they got up to receive an award or make a performance. They served no other function except for the appearance of a seat being full,” he said. I want to make it crystal clear that I am not approaching my time as mayor as a ‘seat filler.’ ”
This article originally appeared in the Oct. 28 – Nov. 3, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
