Developer Looking to Rezone Old Orchard Country Club

A developer is looking to rezone Old Orchard Country Club, a golf course which borders Eatontown, Oceanport and West Long Branch.

National Realty & Development Corp. (NRDC) is looking to rezone the 135-acre property into a mixture of residential and commercial uses.

The property is currently zoned as "park/open space" with an overlay that allows 32,000 square foot lots.

The change, which would have to be approved by the Eatontown Council before an application would be heard by the planning board, would allow the developer to build 175 units in a 55 and over community on one side of the golf course. The portion of the property which fronts on Route 36, next to the Motor Vehicle Commission, would be slated for a 450,000-square-foot retail center.

The two portions would be connected by walking or biking paths and the property would be naturally bifurcated by a stream on the site.

The Eatontown Planning Board would have to approve an amendment to the borough's master plan to allow a zoning change on the property. The Eatontown Council would also have approve the change.

If both both of those steps are taken, the developer will present a formal site plan to the zoning board of adjustment. That plan, and any variances that may be needed, would have to be approved for the developer to start to building on the site.

Professionals for the developer appeared before the Eatontown Planning Board on Monday night and discussed some changes that have been made to the plan since it was first presented in April.

The plan now calls for a 75-foot buffer between the property and the neighborhoods bordering it. A recreation building was also moved further south on the property in an attempt to move it away from the bordering neighborhoods.

Residents have spoken out against the plan since it was first introduced earlier this month. They argue that the proposed plan will create more traffic in the area and have called for the property to remain open space.

The developer's traffic consultant, Henry Ney, said the project will actually improve traffic in the area.

Ney has said some of the improvements would include widening of the roadways where 36 and 71 intersect and the addition of dedicated turn and through lanes there. At the retail center, which would be adjacent to the Motor Vehicle Commission, Ney has outlined changes that would include the addition of and reconfiguration of jug handles, and the addition of a light, designed to ease current traffic jams going into motor vehicle and general congestion along the roadway.

Board member Mark Woloshin said he and other members of the board have not yet seen the traffic report for the plan or any of the changes that were made to it.

Peter Falvo, the developer's attorney, said he would get those documents to the board so they could be reviewed.

The board is expected to discuss the Old Orchard Country Club development plan again at its next meeting on June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Eatontown Borough Hall.