The fate of Potter’s Farm remains to be seen
By Vita Duva
HOLMDEL – During a meeting on the evening of April 6, the Holmdel Zoning Board of Adjustment continued its public hearing on the farmstead located at 470 Red Hill Road.
The property’s new owner – the United Methodist Homes of New Jersey, Inc. – a nonprofit faith-based organization which is driven by the mission to provide housing and support for older adults, has proposed the construction of a 105-unit residential and assisted-living community for adults suffering from dementia and other forms of memory impairment.
Dubbed “The Enclave at Holmdel,” the site project has since seen emotional opposition from not only town residents but locals of the greater area who consider the historically-rooted property to be the municipality’s crown jewel and “gateway” to Holmdel and Middletown as it adjoins the on/off ramp of Exit 114 of the Garden State Parkway.
“We have been testifying for quite some time that this organization has been operating for 100 years, it has multiple facilities and it takes pride in assisting people,” said Sanford Brown, the developer’s attorney. “So certainly, we would never want to construct anything in light of the obvious needs here that will not work.”
The current agricultural site, which consists of roughly 18 acres of green-filled pasture, still houses a herd of free-roaming sheep and goats and, according to the Holmdel Historical Society, dates back to before 1920, which was when William Potter and his family have been said to have initially acquired the homestead.
Based on the developer’s preliminary and final site plan, the proposed facility will also include the construction of a town center building, an open pavilion for activities, a barn and other newly associated site improvements such as, off-street parking, landscaping, lighting, stormwater management facilities and new utility connections, including a sanitary sewer service, which was the focus of much discussion at this meeting.
“The last set of drawings were inconsistent as to the size of the pipe that is being proposed. I am not at all clear that this has been completely and adequately addressed,” said Ralph Blumenthal, Holmdel Zoning Board chairman, concerning the sanitary sewer and pump station, which has been a long-standing concern for Holmdel residents and had yet to be discussed in front of the board. “I want to make sure for the sake of Holmdel that we are all comfortable, and that what is being proposed is going to work and be appropriate.”
Hal Simoff, the engineer for the developer explained the pump’s location and construction.
“There is a proposed pump station located opposite of Dwight Road on the site, he said. “It is below ground. The only thing above ground is an electric board with a control panel. There is a backup generator that is required and that is also on-site. We are using the backup generator from the total site and that is going to power the sewer pump station in case of a power failure.”
He went on the explain how they will connect the project’s sewer to the township’s existing line. “There is a force main that goes north on Van Schoick Road and connects to the existing sanitary sewer that the township has about 3,000 feet north, which will then tie into Holmdel’s sewer line. We will enclose it with a fence and shrubbery so that the electric panel is not visible.”
During public comment, some questioned how long the project will take and what will be done to ensure the safety of not only residents in the area but those traveling on adjacent roadways.
“On the corner of Williams Way and Van Shoick Road – where you would be hooking up the sewer line – that is a very dangerous corner. There has been loss of life there,” said Holmdel resident Danielle Curcio.
“Do you know how long such a project would go on for? There are about eight homes; there are buses for our school children that go up there. You know, it is a detriment for us.”
Simoff said the developers would provide a traffic control plan, “a standard practice when you do construction” which would be reviewed by the county.
“Most of the time the county requires that we notify the property owners before we start construction,” he explained.
As the sewer discussions continued, Simoff was ultimately unable to provide Curcio with an approximate timeline for the sanitary sewer and work pump project.
Holmdel Township’s next regular Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting and continued public hearing concerning the fate of Potter’s farm and the proposed Enclave will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 4 at the town hall located at 4 Crawfords Road, as well as on Zoom.
The article originally appeared in the April 14 – 20, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
