MANALAPAN – The applicant seeking municipal approval to build two warehouses in a Special Economic Development zone on Route 33 in Manalapan is now scheduled to continue presenting testimony to the Planning Board on Aug. 13.
Testimony regarding the proposed Manalapan Logistics Center was last heard during the board’s Feb. 27 meeting. Following the conclusion of testimony that evening, the application was carried to April 23.
The April 23 meeting was cancelled as New Jersey was in the throes of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. At that time, the Manalapan Logistics Center application was placed on the board’s June 11 agenda.
At the request of the applicant, the application was not heard on June 11 and was carried to the board’s July 9 meeting.
On July 9, board members and their attorney Ron Cucchiaro convened for a virtual meeting. At the opening of the meeting, Planning Board Chairwoman Kathryn Kwaak announced the applicant had once again asked the board to carry the application.
Cucchiaro announced the Manalapan Logistics Center application has been carried to the board’s Aug. 13 meeting, which is also expected to be held virtually. The July 9 meeting was adjourned in under five minutes.
Information on how members of the public may “attend” the Aug. 13 virtual meeting will be posted on the township’s website.
Countryside Developers Inc. is proposing to build two warehouses on Route 33 near Pegasus Boulevard.
The warehouses are proposed for an 86-acre parcel on the eastbound side of Route 33, approximately across from the Four Seasons at Manalapan adult community. Pegasus Boulevard is an entrance to and an exit from Four Seasons.
The rear of the development tract is separated by a natural buffer from a residential development that includes Gramercy Lane and Astor Drive.
One warehouse is planned to be 304,866 square feet and the second warehouse is planned to be 302,250 square feet. The warehouses are a permitted use in the Special Economic Development zone.
Countryside Developers is seeking preliminary and final major site plan approval from the Planning Board to remove existing structures on the site and to construct two warehouse distribution buildings. Access to and from the warehouses would be provided on Route 33.
Two attorneys represent interested parties. Ron Gasiorowski represents residents of Astor Drive. Michael Lipari represents the Village Grande at Battleground Homeowners Association.
The Village Grande adult community is about 1 mile from the development site, near a location where trucks that leave the warehouses may make a U-turn to access Route 33 west.
