By Sunayana Prabhu
MIDDLETOWN – The governing body approved and adopted the River Centre South Redevelopment Plan amid much pushback from residents whose homes abut the project along the Swimming River.
One River Centre is a corporate park with office buildings on either side of Newman Springs Road (County Route 520) and part of the township’s larger Exit 109 Redevelopment Plan.
River Centre South, at 331 Newman Springs Road, is on the south side of the roadway and borders the Swimming River.
The River Centre South Redevelopment plan that was approved at the Nov. 20 township committee meeting calls for the construction of Avalon Middletown, a 340-unit apartment complex proposed by developer AvalonBay Communities along the river’s edge.
According to the latest plans submitted in August 2023 by the township’s designated redevelopment planner, DMR Architects, the proposed residential project will be built next to the four office buildings already on-site at the River Centre South complex. It also calls for the elimination of a 20,000-square-foot café to make space for the residential building.
At the meeting, several residents voiced their opposition to the redevelopment plans, stating concerns about environmental damage to the Swimming River and the Swimming River Reservoir that supplies drinking water to Monmouth County.
Many also believe the project will alter adjoining wetlands which provide wildlife habitat for numerous fish, reptiles, mammals and endangered birds such as the bald eagle.
The entire River Centre South complex encompasses approximately 35.152 acres, including the property located to the north of the park-and-ride commuter lot. Part of the property is on the border with Tinton Falls.
Concerned residents from Tinton Falls, Lincroft and other areas of Middletown fighting to minimize development and preserve the Swimming River formally requested the township undertake an environmental impact study to evaluate the redevelopment area.
“The current infrastructure and services are not equipped to manage the decreased quality of surface water runoff into the river,” said Lora Smith-Staines, a Tinton Falls resident and environmental scientist. She told the committee the office park is “not in need of redevelopment and a proposed development does not belong here.”
Smith-Staines cited “increased demands on drinking water, sewage energy, vehicular traffic and schools,” including “increased litter, animal waste and foot traffic” along the walking path by the river that will “start to degrade the natural environment,” she said, “creating more pollution and deterring wild animals from using the land.”
Mayor Tony Perry suggested Smith-Staines communicate the need to protect the walking path through a conservation easement before the planning board, responsible for site plan approvals.
Dough Tomchuck, a resident of Middletown, claimed that “there are many new leases for the buildings” in River Centre so the property deemed underutilized by the township does not actually qualify for redevelopment. He also questioned the need for a Starbucks in the redevelopment plan next to an existing Extended Stay America which he said “changes the whole neighborhood and the traffic patterns will really be detrimental to all residents on our street.”
About concerns the developer will be tax exempt for this redevelopment project, township attorney Brian Nelson said, “Right now, this property is not eligible for tax exemption,” although, he said, “after a redevelopment agreement is entered that can be negotiated.”
The 340 apartment units will fulfill the township’s affordable housing obligations mandated by the state. Nelson said the township had received plans for nearly “1,000 units” at River Centre South but the committee rejected that proposal. He also added that the township is “in the midst of two builder’s remedy cases right now, on properties that are not developed.”
Middletown currently has an obligation to provide 1,026 affordable units, Nelson said. “We have to have sites to satisfy that obligation.” He explained that the township has been attempting to direct the development at sites that are already developed, “rather than at sites which are in the woods, such as the site that they’re looking to develop just up the road at Exit 114 which is completely wooded, behind Sloan Kettering.”
Perry reiterated that the township is making efforts to preserve open spaces while under pressure from potential builder’s remedy lawsuits by redeveloping sites that are already partially developed, not on places that have “zero development on them,” Perry said. “I’m not opposed to redevelopment. I’m opposed to development – the difference is critical.”
Gordon Brown, a resident of Tinton Falls, requested the governing body communicate and notify residents about next steps and meeting schedules so they can be involved in the future proceedings. “Be good neighbors in the way you go about doing it,” Brown said. “Try to think about impacts on the surrounding areas – Parkway Place, Tinton Falls, etc.”
The township will now have to enter into a redevelopment agreement with the developer. The developer will then proceed to make an application for site plan approval to the township’s planning board which would require notifying residents within 200 feet of the development.
Just under 900 supporters have signed an online petition Smith-Staines has been running to save the Swimming River that urges residents to “show up and oppose.”
The article originally appeared in the November 30 – December 6, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
