Monday, September 19, 2005

MISSING: TWO WARD 4 REPRESENTATIVES



CLICK ANYWHERE ON THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE.



Winslow Mayor Sue Ann Metzner called AST "greedy" for trying to build nearly three times the 169 units permitted under current zoning. The township has designated the land "high density residential," permitting three housing units per acre. Courier-Post June 8, 2005

CONDOMINIUMS, STORES, AND YET ANOTHER BILLBOARD WERE BEING DISCUSSED FOR SICKLERVILLE. RESIDENTS DISTRIBUTED 2500 FLIERS IN SEVEN SUBDIVISIONS TO ENCOURAGE OTHER RESIDENTS TO ATTEND A ZONING BOARD MEETING ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 8, 2005.

THE FIRE MARSHAL WAS PRESENT TO COUNT HEADS TO KEEP THE RESIDENTS SAFE. IN THE EVENT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND OR MEETING ROOM WOULD NOT BE LARGE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE CROWDS, ALTERNATE MEETING LOCATIONS WERE BEING CONSIDERED.

MAYOR METZNER, ALONG WITH TWO OTHER COMMITTEEMEN, JOE PINO AND AL COOPER, WERE THERE TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF WARD 4. WHY WASN'T CHUCK FLAMINI OR DAN DIFABIO, THE WARD 4 COMMITTEEMEN, THERE?

DUE TO THE POTENTIAL OUTCRY OF THE PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE, THE APPLICANT REQUESTED THAT THE ZONING VARIANCE HEARING BE CONTINUED TO A UNSPECIFIED ZONING BOARD MEETING IN THE FUTURE.

PERHAPS YOU WOULD CONSIDER SENDING AN EMAIL TO FLAMINI AND DIFABIO WHO CLAIM TO REPRESENT WARD 4. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS YOU MAY CONSIDER ASKING THEM.

EMAIL FOR FLAMINI: CharlesFlamini@winslowtownship.com

EMAIL FOR DIFABIO: DanielDiFabio@winslowtownship.com


1) WHY SHOULD I VOTE FOR YOU THIS NOVEMBER, MR. CHUCK FLAMINI, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO REPRESENT ME AND WARD 4 ISSUES? IT SEEMS YOU JUST WANT TO COLLECT A PAY CHECK FOR MINIMAL EFFORT.

2) IF THE PROJECT GETS APPROVED AS PRESENTED, WILL ANYONE PROFIT WHO FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED YOUR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS?

COURIER-POST ARTICLE
Wednesday, June 8, 2005


Huge housing development plan opposed
Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Zoning board hearing tonight set in Winslow
By ERIK SCHWARTZ Courier-Post Staff


WINSLOW

Opponents of a large 55-and-over housing development proposed for the booming Sicklerville section of the township are expected to fill a zoning board meeting tonight.
Opponents object to a developer's plan to build nearly triple the number of residential units allowed by law. They hope to rally support from the people who live in the hundreds of new homes and shop in the multiplying chain stores surrounding traffic-choked Berlin-Cross Keys Road.

AST Development Corp. needs several zoning variances to construct 504 units, a clubhouse, a shopping center and a billboard on about 64 acres. The parcel sits around the corner from Exit 41 of the Atlantic City Expressway.

AST, based in Lavallette, Ocean County, has an agreement with the farmland's owner, John Wayne Jennings, to pursue developing the property. Company representatives did not return calls for comment.

Leading opponents of the project did not reveal their names on a flier distributed widely in Sicklerville. The flier implored some 2,500 homeowners in seven subdivisions to "Please help save our community" and attend tonight's public hearing.

An informal survey of residents this week found resistance to the addition of as many as 1,000 new residents, but also resignation that more homes, traffic and commerce are inevitable.

"That's too much," said Joe Patterson, 44, a chef who moved to a house in Stone Hollow last year. "Don't get me wrong. I got nothing against the old people, but they're trying to build a little city over there."

Patterson's neighbor, Tom McGrail, 47, has lived in Stone Hollow for 12 years.
"They built all this stuff and it's never affected me," said McGrail, a mechanic. "I don't see that community . . . hurting me. If it means more tax revenue and if it helps keep my taxes down, I'm for it. As far as congestion, it's congested now. And having that is not going to be that much more."

Winslow Mayor Sue Ann Metzner called AST "greedy" for trying to build nearly three times the 169 units permitted under current zoning. The township has designated the land "high density residential," permitting three housing units per acre.

"I just think this is the last thing we need for our community," she said.
That sentiment is likely to be repeated tonight before the zoning board.
"It's getting too overpopulated in this area. The roads just can't handle it," said Jim Tice, 54, a truck driver who has lived in the area for more than 15 years.
"They throw up housing everywhere," he said. "It was very quiet, a nice little town. But now, all that changed. All the farms (are) just about gone."

IF YOU GO
The Winslow Township Zoning Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing tonight at 7:30 at the municipal building, 125 South Route 73.
Reach Erik Schwartz at (856) 486-2904 or eschwartz@courierpostonline.com