Hearing continues on Chapel Hill development
Attny. says planners' request for cluster housing not consistent
BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN - Two months ago the Planning Board told attorney John Giunco, representing the developer of a tract on Chapel Hill Road, to come back with ideas involving cluster housing on the site.

Two months later on March 5, Giunco, along with civil engineer Brian Decina, brought three concepts to the board, none of which involve clusters.

"Of your three concepts, none of them explicitly use clusters," Township Planner Anthony Mercantante said at last week's Planning Board meeting. "One of your concepts heads in the direction but it's not quite cluster housing."

The hour of testimony and questioning about the application to construct 19 single family homes on a tract off Chapel Hill Road left the Planning Board wanting the applicant to do more regarding cluster housing and open space on the 64-acre site.

The application lists the estate of Michael Stavola as the applicant represented by Giunco, of Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla. Plans call for the subdivision on the east corner of Chapel Hill Road and Kings Highway East.

"You have not excited me yet," Planning Board Chairwoman Judith Stanley Coleman told Giunco after hearing the three concepts. "You have all of the acreage but not where you want to put your lots."

The solutions that Giunco and Decina proposed to the board involved access to Kings Highway with two of the three concepts minimizing access from the highway to two driveways, which would alleviate traffic flowing back onto the highway.

Giunco said that they have spoken with residents in the surrounding area on Peachwood Drive and have asked for ideas from the community.

He said that these concepts are partially based on what the residents have discussed with them.

Stanley Coleman wanted to know how many acres of trees would be cut down for the development, and Decina said that of the 64 acres of trees currently on the site, 11 acres of trees would be cleared.

"For every tree you cut down, I'm going to scream," Stanley Coleman said. "It's such tragedy to develop this property. There are so many trees."

Giunco said that cutting down trees is a necessity for this development.

"We are going to be doing a lot of work to benefit the people living in the area," Giunco said. "We are building some beautiful homes that will make the area that much nicer."

Planner for the site, Gordon Gemma, said that clusters in the area do not make sense because development in the surrounding area does not use clusters.

"There will be no consistency with the surrounding neighborhoods," Gemma said. "It is not what Middletown has had in the past."

Stanley Coleman said that the other developments are over 30 years old and that things are changing.

"I've been on this board for over 30 years," Stanley Coleman said. "You've never lived in Middletown and seen what has happened over the years."

The proposal would subdivide the tract into 20 lots, with 19 single-family residences, with the remaining lot to be used for storm-water retention and open space.

The application seeks preliminary and final major subdivision approval to create 19 residential building lots and one detention basin lot on a 64-acre tract.

The Planning Board began hearing the application Jan. 9 and will continue hearing the application now at the April 2 meeting.