Possible Increase in Eatontown Fort Monmouth Housing Questioned

By Christopher Sheldon

The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority's (FMERA) plan for the number of housing units located in the Eatontown section of Fort Monmouth is being questioned by residents and local officials.

FMERA's reuse plan calls for 577 housing units in Eatontown sector of the fort, but some are afraid that number will increase after veterans' housing is added to the property.

The plan states that 275 units will be located at Howard Commons and 302 will be located on Parcel B

The 10-acre parcel is located along Alexander Avenue in Eatontown and is scheduled to be built into a veterans community. The community will provide permanent housing and assistance for homeless veterans. The exact number of housing units that will be added there has not yet been set, as the request for offers to purchase (RFOTP) has not yet been released by FMERA.

Eatontown resident Bob English has spoken out against the possible increase in housing at the most recent meetings of the Eatontown Council and FMERA.

"The problem is that the RFOTPs for Howard Commons and Parcel B were not reduced by whatever the veteran's housing number is going to be," English said after last week's council meeting. "While I am fully supportive of the veterans' housing in Eatontown and other parts of Monmouth County, whatever that number is should be deducted from Eatontown's  total housing obligations."

Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo and Eatontown Council President Anthony Talerico said they agreed with English and that it is something that they will be watching.

During Wednesday's FMERA meeting, English asked the board if the 577 total units would include veterans' housing.

"We recognize the responsibility we have for the number of units," FMERA Executive Director Bruce Steadman said. "We are going through the process fully aware of the reuse plan."

FMERA Board Chairman James Gorman said the results of the RFOTPs for Howard Commons and Parcel B are "still not known."

"We don't know if all the parcels on B, C and C1 will be filled," Gorman said. "The RFOTP allows alternative scenarios to be proposed and they been proposed and are being evaluated."

"We are very sensitive to the issue and we know Eatontown is very sensitive to the issue," he added.