Holmdel Postpones Action To Name Nokia Site A Redevelopment Area

This article was updated as of Wednesday, Sept. 13.

HOLMDEL, NJ— Township Committee action on the Planning Board's recommendation that the Nokia building on Holmdel Road is an area in need of redevelopment for condemnation purposes is postponed - for now.

The resolution on the parcel, owned by Crawford Hill Holdings, was removed from the agenda for Tuesday night's meeting.

Mayor DJ Luccarelli made a statement at the start of the meeting explaining that the township has received a letter from the Nokia site owner, who also owns adjacent Lots 6 and 6.01, regarding good faith negotiations on those two lots.

With the good faith negotiations proceeding, Luccarelli said the "concurrrent" issue of Lot 7 (the Nokia site) would be removed from consideration for now.

He noted the postponement in no way "prejudices" action on the Nokia site and the Township Committee reserves the right to consider the Planning Board's recommendation at a future meeting.

The Crawford Hill property includes two lots (6 and 6.01) already designated for an eminent domain process, the subject of the good faith negotiations. The third lot where the Nokia building is, Lot 7, is also owned by would-be developer Rakesh Antala, principal of Crawford Hill Holdings.

The attorney for Crawford Hill Holdings commented on the action on Wednesday.

“We will be meeting with the township to discuss all open issues, and appreciate that the township has decided not to rush to judgment on the redevelopment designation,” attorney Joseph Grather said.

Nokia purchased the properties from Bell Labs, and Crawford Hill Holdings since purchased the property from Nokia.

The Planning Board's 5-1 vote to recommend the site an as area in need of redevelopment came last Tuesday after the township's planner presented her recommendation and arguments were also presented by the owner. You can see the full report by the township here. The Township Committee was to have the matter on its agenda for this Tuesday.

Crawford Hill Holdings hoped to build a townhouse development on Lots 6 and 6.01 at 791 Holmdel Road.

The parcels make up not only the highest point in Monmouth County - Crawford Hill - but also the site of the historic Horn antenna.

The National Historic Landmark Horn antenna is on a lot next to the Nokia site and was used as part of the former Bell Labs for research. It was designated a landmark for its role decades ago in confirming the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe.

These factors and others, including environmental protection, have led the township to determine it must protect those two lots as open space and as having historical significance.