MANALAPAN – A public hearing on the Stavola Asphalt Company’s proposal to construct a residential and commercial project at Route 33 and Woodward Road was not heard as scheduled by the Manalapan Planning Board on Sept. 9.
Instead, the application was carried to the board’s Oct. 14 meeting at the request of the attorney who represents the Stavola Asphalt Company.
The company’s application had its initial hearing before the board on Aug. 26. Testimony that evening focused on the proposed residential development, which will include a 30% set-aside for affordable housing.
Affordable housing is defined as housing that is sold or rented at below market rates to individuals and families whose income meets certain guidelines.
In testimony before the board on Aug. 26, David Fisher, a vice president with K. Hovnanian Homes, said the company is the contract purchaser of the 41-acre lot where Manalapan Landing is proposed to be constructed.
Fisher said 105 two-story townhomes are proposed to be sold at market rates. He said Manalapan Landing would also include a total of 45 two-bedroom and three-bedroom condominium units which would be designated as low income and moderate income units.
At that point there was a discussion between the board’s planner, Jennifer Beahm, and Fisher as to whether the affordable housing units would be for sale or for rent.
Beahm said the affordable housing must be rental units. Fisher said K. Hovnanian understood the affordable housing would be for sale units. The issue was not resolved that evening.
When the Planning Board reconvened on Sept. 9, attorney Peter Wolfson, who represents the Stavola Asphalt Company, said the issue of the affordable housing being rental units or for sale units had not been resolved.
“We are trying to examine that issue to make the project viable for both parties (the township and the developer),” Wolfson said.
He requested that the Stavola Asphalt Company application be carried to the board’s Oct. 14 meeting so the issue may continue to be investigated. The board granted Wolfson’s request for the continuance.
In addition to proposing Manalapan Landing at Route 33 and Woodward Road, the applicant is also proposing to construct a 20,250-square-foot medical office building and three additional buildings: a 7,260-square-foot building with two retail spaces and two fast-food restaurants; an 8,000-square-foot building with two retail spaces and two restaurants; and a 3,000-square-foot building to be used as a fast-food restaurant.
No testimony has been provided about the medical office building or the other three buildings at this time.
