Holmdel Says Middletown Construction Is Worsening Flooding

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — At their most recent meeting Tuesday, the Holmdel Township Committee said flooding in Holmdel is getting worse — and suggested new construction in Middletown is exacerbating it.

Elected Holmdel Committee member Prakash Santhana suggested that a retention basin should be built, possibly in the two large tracks of land behind the TD Bank on Laurel Avenue. He said this would help alleviate flooding around the Palmer Square condo complex off Laurel Ave. He said flooding has been getting worse over the years, and that area flooded during Ida.

"Middletown will also be impacted so they may be interested in joining us," he also said.

Mayor Greg Buontempo responded by saying that a study from Rutgers from years ago had started to look into water drainage in Holmdel and that in order to do anything about it they had to look at a broader area, not just Palmer Square.

"It can't just be Holmdel because Middletown is gonna keep building and it's gonna keep flowing into Holmdel as we potentially build basins to help it," Buontempo said.

Buontempo also said he will be sending a letter to JCP&L telling them he was not satisfied with their service in this week's storm. He is also reaching out to Monmouth County legislators, he said

"Very frustrating that we're dealing with this over — like groundhog day with JCP&L," said Buontempo. "More significant, I feel, penalties need to be applied to JCP&L for not performing up to standards. If they're gonna be our monopoly utility, they need to perform better."

Originally reported by Catarina Moura/Holmdel Patch

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