Turnout light for forum on zoning amendment Township committee members say they remain undecided BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer HAZLET - The Township Committee expected a large crowd in the auditorium at Raritan High School last week for a public forum on a controversial zoning issue. However, according to Committeeman Joseph Belasco's count, just a little over 50 people showed up. "During the meeting I looked out into the crowd and added up that there were 54 people," Belasco said. "I count 19 of the people we see at most of our meetings, four are our wives and three are reporters, maybe that says something about this issue." The meeting, which was held the same night as the Board of Education meeting, saw the few dozen residents spread out throughout the auditorium, all wanting to know more about the issue that has been debated over the past three months. The Township Committee held the meeting as an open forum for residents to discuss a proposed zoning amendment that would establish a new zone - Medium Density Residential Transition - allowing higher density development on a 4-acre tract on Poole Avenue. Belasco had proposed the forum as a way to "clear the air" for residents who have been coming in droves to meetings to oppose the rezoning. He said that he wanted residents to understand all of the facts involved in the new ordinance, which would rezone the property to allow for town home development. Belasco said that he would base his vote on input from the public forum and that if the consensus was that residents did not want the zoning change, he would vote against the amendment to the zoning ordinances. The meeting began with Mayor James DiNardo laying down the ground rules for the evening, that each speaker would have a five minute-limit for comment. The final vote on the zoning amendment was scheduled for March 25. After DiNardo spoke, township attorney Daniel McCarthy explained how the issue of the zoning change had developed. "When I came in as township attorney last year I took a look at the litigation involving this matter with the zoning board and thought this would be a positive resolution," McCarthy said. "Though I am reasonably confident we would prevail on any case against us, my gut reaction is to go through with this zoning change." Developer Elegant Properties had previously received permission to build 11 houses on the property after failing to gain approval for 26 townhomes on the site. The new ordinance would make it possible for Elegant Properties to build the town homes. According to McCarthy, the zoning amendment would greatly enhance Hazlet's quality of life in that the builder will have to clean up the area as well as pay $70,000 that would go into infrastructure improvements for Poole Avenue as part of the agreement. Also $300,000 would be paid by the builder to be placed into an affordable housing trust fund. Township engineer Michael Bohrer assured the residents that the wetlands would not be disturbed on the 4-acre tract. Hazlet resident Jack Shaw expressed concerns that 26 townhomes would mean more children to be educated in township schools. "You'll have these two- and three- bedroom townhomes," Shaw said. "How many kids is that going to bring into the town? If each home has one or two kids then that's a lot of kids." McCarthy assured Shaw that a greater number of children would have come from the 11 houses that were originally approved for the site, as opposed to the townhomes now planned. Townhomes, he noted, are normally starter homes for young couples who do not have children. Hazlet resident John Curran wanted to know why the committee could not wait for the amendment until after the township updates its master plan. The majority of the objections to the zoning change have included concern over the higher density, which would be allowed. Although the committeemen did not indicate whether they would vote yes or no on the zoning amendment, many did say that they still had not made up their minds. "I still don't know which way I am leaning on this issue," Committeeman Joseph Marques said. "We can still hear more on this matter at the voting meeting but I have yet to make up my mind." "We have the best for the town in mind when we are going to vote," DeputyMayor Kevin Lavan said. "We are going to do what is best for Hazlet." DiNardo also said he has yet to make up his mind as well. "I still haven't made a decision," Di- Nardo said. "This meeting though was a huge help for me and I appreciate everyone coming out." Committeeman Scott Aagre, who was the only Township Committee member to oppose the measure, did not say he would vote no again, but alluded to it. "You all know where I stand on this matter," Aagre said. The vote will need a super-majority which means that it will require at least four yes votes out of the five voting committee members to pass. Belasco, who said that this would be the hardest decision he has had to make since coming onto the committee still had one major thought on his mind as the meeting ended. "If this does not pass and we end up in court, what happens if we win the court case," Belasco said. "That's something I have to keep on my mind. If we win, do we really win?"