Potential Old Orchard Zoning Change Headed to Public Hearing

By Christopher Sheldon

A potential amendment to the Eatontown Master Plan that would create new zoning for Old Orchard Country Club is headed to a public hearing next month.

Borough Planner Richard Kramer said during the Nov. 25 Eatontown Planning Board meeting that the amendment would preserve 75 acres of the property would set aside for open space and the other 60 acres that fronts Route 36 would be zoned for non-residential development.

"The present zoning and zone plan for Old Orchard does not ensure that any part of  it would preserved as a public park or even maintained as a golf course," Kramer said. "The mechanism that's in the Master Plan now recommends its preservation as a public park, however, the zoning does not in any way guarantee that it would be effectuated."

The golf course is currently zoned to allow high density single family dwellings.

Any developer would have to present a site plan for the entire property, and would have to cap the amount of commercial space at 450,000 sq. feet. They would also have to provide direct driveway access to the site from Route 36, a traffic impact study, and a plan to manage and maintain the open space of the property. 

A previous plan to develop the property, which was not approved by the Eatontown Zoning Board of Adjustment, featured 450,000 square feet of commercial facility and 175 units of townhouse development. 

The planning board voted to move the plan to a public hearing on either Dec. 9 or Dec. 16 by a 4-3 vote, with members Dan Drury, Cathy Silva and Edmund Fitterer voting against moving forward.

If the board votes to approve the amendment, it would not change the zoning of the property. The Eatontown Council would have to pass a zoning amendment for that to occur.

Board member Mark Woloshin called the amendment a "good compromise."

"I think preserving open space is good," Woloshin said. "It's not messing with the houses around (the golf course). We can deal with a traffic plan when it comes before us."

Mayor Gerald Tarantolo also said he thought he amendment was fair.

"This is a departure from the original plan that was proposed by a developer and it tends to meet the wishes established by residents in that area," Tarantolo said.