JACKSON – Ground has been broken on the first phase of a project that is eventually planned to bring athletic fields, a recreation facility and two hotels to a 75-acre parcel on Route 537 between Interstate 195 and the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson.
Developer Vito Cardinale is building Jackson Crossing 2/Adventure Crossing on Route 537, a county highway that is the border of Monmouth and Ocean counties. In November, the Jackson Zoning Board of Adjustment approved an application submitted by Cardinale.
The possible development of hotels near Great Adventure has been discussed by Jackson officials for many years. The theme park opened in the mid-1970s.
Phase one of the Jackson Crossing 2/Adventure Crossing project has broken ground and is expected to result in the construction of an indoor sports and entertainment venue (party rooms, an arcade, laser tag and two sports bars) and an outdoor athletic complex.
The indoor sports and entertainment venue will contain a 114,000-square-foot space covered by a dome, a one-story, 32,234-square-foot recreation center and a 15,429-square-foot mezzanine seating area. The outdoor athletic complex will contain eight playing fields and a one-story fieldhouse where concessions will be sold, according to testimony that was presented to the zoning board.
Phase two of the Jackson Crossing 2/Adventure Crossing project is expected to result in the construction of an indoor recreation facility and two hotels. The first floor of the recreation facility will encompass 101,781 square feet and the second floor will cover 11,155 square feet. The two hotels will contain a total of 241 guest rooms. One hotel will have a bar-restaurant and a small seating area, according to the plans that were approved by the zoning board.
On July 18, the zoning board granted an administrative approval to Jackson Crossing 2/Adventure Crossing. Engineer Ian Borden represented the applicant at that meeting.
“The board had requested a second access point in the original approval. We are working to extend a driveway from the existing traffic light at Route 537 and Pine Drive, and we asked the board to conceptually accept it so we can perform the final design in consultation with the Monmouth County engineer,” Borden said.
On a related issue, the Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority (JTMUA) is proposing a western water main extension connecting the Great Adventure water system to the JTMUA water system which will run along Route 537 and Anderson Road.
“We proposed to the JTMUA running the main across our site as well as adjoining properties owned by (Great Adventure), a more direct route to save the JTMUA money and provide better service to the commercially zoned properties, including Adventure Crossing. The more direct route serves an additional benefit of assisting in sewer service to these properties as well,” Borden said.
Borden said this represents a regional approach to planning for water and sewer service.
