Can't ignore COAH burden, and Lucent tract

Can't ignore COAH burden, COAH impacts need consideration before Holmdel endorses demolition of the former Bell Labs building on the Alcatel-Lucent tract. The New Jersey State Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) imposes quotas for numbers of lower income housing units on any town approving construction of new job-providing buildings or new residences. This COAH burden — while generally unpopular — cannot be ignored when considering redevelopment of this 473- acre tract located in the middle of Holmdel.

My reading of the recently approved COAH regulations indicates that no credit would be given for removing this building that once supported about 6,000 office workers. This is because it has been vacant for more than one year. But constructing one or more new buildings to support 6,000 office workers would likely yield a quota of nearly 400 new COAH units. Holmdel should carefully consider reuse of this tract's existing building as a viable ratable while avoiding such a heavy COAH burden.

Some supporters of Holmdel Township Committee candidates Dr. Rocco Pascucci and Mr. Pat Impreveduto have opposed reusing this former Bell Labs building. I call upon candidates Pascucci and Impreveduto to repudiate those supporters' position. Indeed, all four Holmdel Township Committee candidates should publicly commit to emphasizing analysis of the tax, COAH, and environmental impacts of this tract's redevelopment by unbiased professionals with demonstrated experience in large-scale reuse planning.
C. Anthony Cooper
Holmdel