Tinton Falls Will Receive $1.75 Million Through Former Army Property

Tinton Falls will be able to add $1.75 million to its coffers now that the a deal has been reached between the borough and a developer looking to build housing units on a former Army property on Tinton Avenue.

The 39-acre site was once the home of the Army's Communications Electronic Command Center (CECOM) Building that was demolished in 2009. A redevelopment plan was adopted by the council seven years ago, but the parcel has remained undeveloped.

That should change now after the council voted to approve an ordinance that revised the redevelopment plan for the property.

"These changes were negotiated between the developer and my administration as the developer was asking for relief from various elements of the plan," Tinton Falls Mayor Michael Skudera said in an email to Patch.

The project started as an age-restricted community in the original plan.

However, a 2009 Senate Bill S-2577, also known as the Conversion Bill, was signed into law that allows some age-restricted units to be converted to non-age restricted units. The law was enacted because of the  unfavorable housing market and the economic climate.

"Under the former governor's conversion bill, this project would have been all converted to market rate with multi-bedrooms and a huge tax increase for the school since it would have generated many new school-aged children," Myaor Skudera said. "However my administration negotiated with the builder and set restrictions on the homes as to limit the costs on the taxpayers."

"We also put in an incentive for the developer, which is in this new amended agreement, that if they want to go back to an age restricted community, they also have this choice and will receive slightly larger bedroom homes," Mayor Skudera continued.

The following are the main changes made the ordinance, according to Mayor Skudera

• Tinton Falls receives more per house in impact fees for a total of $9,500 per each unit. Previously this was $1,000 less at $8,500 per unit. In total at $9,500 per unit this is approximately $1.75 million, and this goes into the borough's general fund. The agreement allows 184 units to be constructed as opposed to the original plan of 183 units.

• The agreement allows slightly larger bedroom homes. Homes with three bedrooms are  allowed only if a builder constructs an age-restricted community.

• Reduction of individual unit rear setback from 20 to 14 feet, so a 3-bedroom model can be built.

• The developer will install a sewer line to Water Street.

• The setback from the principal structure to the parking area has been reduced from 50 feet to 40 feet.

• A smaller clubhouse will now be built

• It does not require sprinklers for the lawns of each home. They will still be required in the common areas of the community.

The revised ordinance also eliminates references to the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) provisions.

"The relief from COAH fees would have only built a few homes and did very little for the borough as we have more than our fair share of affordable housing," Mayor Skudera said. "Additionally there aren’t any affordable housing projects in the borough's pipeline at this time and the money needs to be spent in 4 years."

"It was more prudent to receive higher impact fees for additional tax relief for the taxpayers of Tinton Falls," Mayor Skudera continued.