A bond ordinance that will authorize the funding of various improvements to the Transit Village Project was introduced by the Matawan Borough Council.
The Transit Station Redevelopment Plan envisions a new neighborhood comprised of a mix of residential, retail, transit and open spaces, according to information provided by the borough.
The main areas will focus on the establishment of a mixed use retail/residential; pedestrian friendly Main street corridor; preservation and public enjoyment of the Historic Matawan Train Station; reconfiguration and increase in commuter parking for the train station; new mid- to high- density residential dwellings; linkages that support the revitalization of Matawan’s downtown; and preservation/establishment of private and public open space for enjoyment of new residents, as well as the residents of Matawan and the surrounding areas, according to information provided by the borough.
The council approved on April 17 the introduction of the bond ordinance, which would appropriate $250,000 therefore and authorize the issuing of $238,000 bonds or notes for the borough to finance part of the cost.
The Transit Station Redevelopment Area is located in the northeastern section of the borough and is bound by Wilson Creek to the west and north, Atlantic Avenue to the east, across which lies Aberdeen Township, as well as Lake Matawan and residential uses to the south. The Redevelopment Area is bisected by the New Jersey Transit North Jersey Coast Line, according to information provided by the borough.
“We are going to redevelop the train station in that area and there are bonds where we are redoing sidewalks leading to the train station,” Mayor Joseph Altomonte said.
Altomonte said the borough received a $300,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for the Transit Village Project.
The bond will pay for the match for a NJDOT grant the borough got to improve sidewalks and street crossings in the area of the train station, according to Borough Administrator Louis Ferrera.
Altomonte said Seacoast Construction Inc. won the bid to do the improvements for the Transit Village project.
Once the bond ordinance is adopted by the governing body, Altomonte said construction for the improvements will begin this spring or early summer.
The second and final reading for the bond ordinance will be on May 1, according to Borough Clerk Karen Wynne.
In other news, Police Chief Jason Gallo will be retiring effective May 31, according to Altomonte.
The council approved a resolution authorizing the execution of the 2018 employment agreement between the borough and Gallo on April 17 during the council meeting at the municipal building.
Regarding who will take Gallo’s place as chief, Altomonte said, “We have the lieutenants who are a rank lower [and] most likely it will probably be those lower ranks moving up to the next rank.”
For more information about the Transit Redevelopment plan, visit www.matawanborough.com/matawan/General%20Notices/2015%20Train%20Station%20Redevelopment.pdf?1524075192.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
