Route 547 Land In Manchester Could Have Mixed Uses

MANCHESTER – An ordinance entitled “Mixed Use Land Development,” which sets standards on what can be built on the Pinelands Zoning District area along Route 547, was approved during the most recent Township Council meeting. The measure had been carried from a prior meeting as it required additional information from the state and the township planning board.

Township Attorney Lauren Staiger informed the council and public that “we did receive a letter from the Planning Board with its review of this proposed ordinance and they did recommend it be adopted with two minor changes.” The ordinance provides for a mix of commercial, residential and multifamily residential uses.

The ordinance will permit flexibility in design standards in order to promote creative design concepts, attract additional businesses, employment opportunities and places to live. It was stated to also serve as “an appropriate transition to adjacent residential zones and create a place to live that represents Manchester Township in a unique attractive way.”

Permitted principal uses include townhouses – 2.5 story maximum building height, multifamily residential dwelling which would contain eight or more dwelling units – located over a commercial use, mixed use buildings and commercial uses.

“A size restriction recommended for change was a provision for 50 feet going to 45 feet and 30 feet going to 25 feet. These are minor changes and they do recommend adopting such changes,” Staiger added.

An issue of bulk variance was brought up by resident William Foor who is a member of the Planning Board. Business Administrator Carl Block said that would be addressed in a separate ordinance that would address “bulk standards.”

Staiger concurred with Block, saying “that is something we’d have to revise and consider in a separate ordinance. No mention of bulk standards was mentioned at that time (when the review was undertaken by the Planning Board).”

Foor said the engineer said the bulk standards had to be revised “before the ordinance was approved.”

Resident Hank Glen asked the Council about charging stations which Staiger responded was also something that is addressed in a separate ordinance “as part of the application. There was an ordinance that was adopted previously, two years ago by the township that deals with that.”

“You have a listing (in the ordinance) of all commercial ordinances allowed and a big push now is with these mini-breweries that are springing up all over the place. Is that allowed in this township?” Glen asked.

Staiger and Block weren’t sure. Glen questioned why that wouldn’t be addressed within the mixed-use ordinance. “Is it listed?”

The attorney said it would be identified through the code and that township planning department would “know off hand what those codes mean.”

The resident asked, “If it isn’t in the code here do you think it should be included in?”

“It is something to consider,” Staiger answered.

Block joked, “are you looking for a brewery?”

“I’m looking to get businesses into the town,” Glen responded.

Councilman Craig Willis wanted to see the Planning Board “clarify what they are talking about.”

The council opted not to carry further and unanimously approved the ordinance. Council President Roxy Conniff was absent from this meeting.

In other business Michael Contreras and Ryan Thompson were appointed as full-time officers in the Division of Police.

Also on the consent agenda was a resolution to support the Ocean County Lands Trust’s request to acquire certain property located in the township and supporting the Ocean County Engineering Department’s proposed project on Route 539 at Joint Base Maguire-Dix-Lakehurst in Plumsted Township, Manchester and Jackson.

Council members also approved a special needs funding limit waiver for Manchester’s Home Improvement program.

The governing body awarded a contract to Schwarze Industries through Sourcewell National Cooperatiive for Schwarze Sweeper and Accessories.

Also awarded was a $40,000 award of a required disclosure contract with Yesco Sign and Lighting Services for replacement of the Manchester Municipal Annex Digital Sign in Whiting following a vehicle accident that destroyed the prior sign. The township received insurance money from the firm representing the individual who crashed into the sign a few months ago.