Home Depot approved on Tinton Falls tract Middletown residents, commiteeman attend meeting to voice objection BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer TINTON FALLS - Home Depot is coming to the borough. The variance-free application was approved at the June 27 Planning Board meeting. It is now being reviewed by the county and the state, which has to review the traffic impact. They must decide whether or not to approve a traffic signal on Wayside Road, which is heavily trafficked and backs up at the Route 18 ramp during the morning and evening rush hours. The 106,278-square-foot retail center and 24,429-square-foot garden center was approved after the Planning Board listened to residents of Tinton Falls and Middletown who raised objections, most of which centered on additional traffic. The Home Depot store will be located on the south side of Wayside Road on 27.15 acres in an IOP zone. Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. plans to subdivide the property into two lots; the larger one will be 18.6 acres and the other 8.353 acres. Besides the retail store and the garden center, there will be a separate 7,000-square-foot seasonal sales area with 719 parking spaces on the larger lot. Plans also call for a sand and gravel operation on the smaller lot and construction of 34 parking spaces. The property, owned by Stavola Realty, Tinton Falls, which was represented by John A. Giunco, of Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla in Middletown, is being leased to Home Depot. Two Swimming River Road residents sent a letter to the board stating that residents oppose the application because of the increased traffic it would bring. Swimming River Road becomes Wayside Road south of Sycamore Avenue. A number of Middletown residents also attended the hearing to voice concerns. Middletown Township Committeeman Thomas G. Hall attended the hearing to convey a message from members of Middletown's governing body regarding their concern over a "potential exacerbation of many, varied and significant traffic issues in and around adjoining Lincroft." In addition, Middletown Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger sent a letter supporting Middletown's concerns about increased traffic. Walter L. Horan, director of the Lincroft Village Green Association, said at the hearing that his group vehemently opposes the Home Depot application also because of increased traffic that will be generated. "This will significantly affect each and every resident that lives anywhere near this store. Roads such as Sycamore Avenue, Tinton Avenue, Wayside Avenue and Swimming River Road will all see substantial increases in traffic," he said. He said that a store of this size belongs on a state route such at Routes 35 or 36 and not on a county road near residential areas. "This store will draw new traffic from surrounding towns such as Shrewsbury, Middletown, Colts Neck and beyond to our neighborhoods," he said.