The project to alleviate daily bottlenecks at State Highway 34 and Lloyd Road (County Route 3) intersection became one giant step closer to reality, following the announcement that the state and county will release funds that will cover nearly 90% of the cost to widen the intersection.

"With the state and county funding now in place, we look forward to construction starting on this long-awaited project," said Aberdeen Councilman Tom Perry. "We are pleased to see that the efforts of the Township Council and our professional staff to get the state and county to place the intersection on a fast-track project list have succeeded. The improvements are greatly  needed to enhance both quality-of-life and public safety for residents in this section of the Township, as well as all others who pass through this intersection."

"The junction of Route 34 and Lloyd Road has, for some time, been the most congested intersection in the Township," adds Councilman Vincent Vinci, a retired member of the Aberdeen Police Department. "It is gratifying that the state and county have recognized the importance of getting this job done and placing it on the front burner."

According to a recent report in the Asbury Park Press, Monmouth County will receive more than $2.3 million from the state Department of Transportation. The funds will be released in four installments over the next three years, with the initial payment made in late August. The county, in turn, will contribute an estimated $1 million, while Aberdeen's share of approximately $400,000 will be covered by fees assessed on surrounding developments. Township Manager Mark Coren noted that the bulk of those fees would come from the owners of the Shop-Rite and Stop & Shop centers. 

Councilman Tom Perry (l.) and Mayor David Sobel are pictured at Rte. 34-Lloyd Rd. intersection. Efforts by Aberdeen Council to get state and county to fast track the widening project have succeeded.

As reported in The Press article, under the plan, the county will add one 400-foot-long westbound lane on Lloyd Road, as well as 800-foot-long northbound and southbound lanes on Route 34. (The Lloyd Road Lane would be added in the section that lies between the Shop-Rite and Stop & Shop centers.) All of the work will be done within the county's existing right of way, the newspaper reported.            

In February, the county retained Vollmer Associates for $219,761 to begin design and survey work on Lloyd Road. According to The Press article, Vollmer's contract is now expected to be modified to include the state highway portion of the project later this year.  The project funding announcement comes as work begins on the new Bed, Bath & Beyond that will occupy most of the former Stop & Shop building at Aberdeen Plaza, the shopping center at the Lloyd Road-Route 34 intersection now anchored by the relocated Super Stop & Shop. Bed, Bath & Beyond is expected to open this November.

The intersection's project funding comes as work proceeds on the new Bed, Bath & Beyond that is expected to open in center anchored by Stop & Shop.

According to project architect Chuck Deitz, the remainder of the former Stop & Shop space will be converted into smaller specialty retail stores facing Route 34. The balance of the center, from Bed Bath & Beyond down to the Super Stop & Shop, will undergo a major facade renovation, with new tenants introduced to the vacant spaces. "Upon completion of the renovation, which is scheduled for spring 2006, the rejuvenated center will be an asset to both the property owner and the township," said Deitz.                        

Developer tapped for church Street senior housing

Architect's rendering of affordable rental units in new senior community.

The Township Council has selected from several prominent companies  The PRC Group of West Long Branch to develop the new senior housing community that will be built on the former South River Metals site on Church Street.

"The community will be a mix of approximately 60 affordable rental units and 60 market rate units for sale," said Mayor David Sobel. "The affordable apartments  designated for seniors on this site, coupled with the estimated 63 units for people of all ages that are planned for one of the new developments in the Freneau section, will fulfill the Township's constitutional responsibilities to provide affordable housing under New Jersey's 'Mt. Laurel' regulations." 

Above: Rendering of market rate housing that will be one of the components of new senior complex off Church Street. Conceptual site plan is below.

"Equally important," added Deputy Mayor Owen Drapkin, "between the proposed PRC development at South River Metals and the 55-plus developments planned for Freneau, our senior residents who desire to remain here after selling their homes will have ample opportunities to stay in Aberdeen. These are socially and fiscally responsible developments for our community that will not burden the school district."

The community - a mix of 60 affordable rentals and 60 market rate units for sale - is designed to allow Aberdeen seniors to remain in town after selling their homes.

Councilwoman Wilhelmina Gumbs noted that PRC will go before the Township Planning Board this fall for site plan approval. Concurrently, environmental clearances are being sought from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. "If all goes according to plan, the development could be completed within the next 18 months," she said.

Councilmembers Wilhelmina Gumbs and Joe Raymond are pictured on Church Street across from South River Metals buildings that will be demolished to make way for the new senior housing.

"Beyond the benefits of providing needed senior housing, the PRC development will turn an industrial site that had been an eyesore into something that will make the entire Township proud," commented Councilman Joseph Raymond. "We're thrilled to see this project go forward.'

"This will turn an eyesore into something that will make the  Township proud."

Established in 1960, The PRC Group is a multi-faceted real estate owner, developer and services provider. The company has a successful track record in developing and owning residential and commercial investment properties, as well as building new home communities in New Jersey and other eastern states. PRC and affiliates currently own and manage over 3,000 residential units.

Council to preserve land in Cliffwood Beach

Working in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), the Township Council has

Deputy Mayor Owen Drapkin (l.) and Councilman Vincent Vinci are pictured on trail in the 15-acre Lakeshore Drive site that will be preserved as open space. Ballfields and picnic areas are among the uses being considered for the site, which adjoins Ross Field and is across from a 9-acre parcel that's been preserved by the state.

agreed to acquire approximately 15 acres of undeveloped land along Lakeshore Drive in Cliffwood Beach that will be preserved as open space. This transaction, which is expected to close this fall, follows the purchase earlier this year by the state of an undeveloped nine-acre parcel on the west side of Lakeshore Drive that will also be retained as open space.

"These two environmentally sensitive sites by the beach are part of the drainage system leading into Raritan Bay," explains Township Manager Mark Coren. "Although these sites were available for development, we prevailed upon the state and the Trust for Public Land to step in and preserve the properties. These latest properties acquired are an outgrowth of this Council"s commitment to preserve lands under the Township's open space plan. As part of this commitment,  we previously purchased 25 acres of waterfront property off of Route 35 in the River Gardens section."

With funding for the nine-acre parcel provided entirely by New Jersey's Green Acres program, the smaller site will remain under state control. The larger 15-acre site, however, will be owned by Aberdeen. Funding for 75% of that site's purchase price will come through TPL, which works with outside foundations to finance such projects, according to Kathy Haake, project manager based at the Trust's Morristown, N.J. office. "We expect that the Township will be reimbursed for its 25% share of the purchase price by the state's Green Acres program," Haake says, adding that closing on the transaction is subject to various approvals, as well as the finalization of funding through Green  Acres and TPL.

"Thanks to these two programs, we will be able to preserve almost 25 acres by the beach as open space at virtually no cost to our taxpayers," comments Mayor David Sobel.  "We are very pleased to be able to provide this lasting  'gift' to our residents and future generations, who will be able to enjoy these natural spaces for years to come.  TPL and the state are to be applauded for their valued assistance at all levels."

Councilman Nicholas Minutolo says that the Township is currently exploring various recreational options for the 15-acre site. These range from leaving it in its natural state to developing passive and active recreational opportunities allowable under Green  Acres regulations.  

This marks the first time Aberdeen has worked with TPL, a national, non-profit organization that conserves land for parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places. Working in tandem with various levels of government, the group does all the legwork and due-diligence on land acquisitions, and then arranges funding through foundations and other resources. Since 1972, TPL has worked with landowners, community groups, and governments to complete more than 2,700 land conservation projects in 46 states,  protecting nearly 2 million acres.

"We would welcome the opportunity to help Aberdeen with any other properties they would like to see preserved," says Haake.