Proposed Changes to CECOM Redevelopment Could Help Move Project Forward

The 39-acre CECOM site on Tinton Avenue still awaits a new purpose. What was once an office building teeming with U.S. Army employees now bears no resemblance to its past role.  

While it’s been six years since a redevelopment plan for the site was adopted by the Tinton Falls Borough Council, the parcel remains undeveloped. But the recent introduction of revisions to the plan suggest some movement.

The borough council discussed plans for the site at a March 1 workshop meeting. Borough Planner Paul Gleitz and representatives of the site's owner, the PRC Group, presented the council with revisions to plans for construction of approximately 181 housing units on the site.

One major change eliminates the age-restriction initially imposed on the development. Another calls for combining a neighboring 14-acre site, dubbed the Newman Tract, into the redevelopment plan, lifting age restrictions from that development as well.

The original plan called for the site to be an age-restricted community. Since then, a 2009 Senate Bill S-2577, also known as the Conversion Bill, was signed into law that allows some age-restricted units to be converted to non-age restricted units. The law was enacted because of the  unfavorable housing market and the economic climate. 

The merging of the two sites is the result of litigation: The settlement order of a lawsuit stipulates the Newman Tract must be developed in conjunction with the CECOM site. CECOM, and the Newman Tract, are now both owned by PRC Tinton Avenue Developers based in West Long Branch.

The proposed revised plan calls for single family, two-bedroom units. In addition, all units will have deed restrictions to disallow any additions to the livable floor area. The draft of the plan, posted on the borough's Web site,  includes a chart showing that the “approximate number of school age children that the lifting of the age restriction will create is .118 per unit.” That would translate into an added 21 children for the school system.

“The elimination of age-restriction will generate a deminimus increase in the borough’s school enrollment. The two-bedroom maximum will discourage growing families and would only be suited to families with one child,” the draft states.

The draft also states that the demand for age-restricted housing "has declined" since the original plans were drawn and cites the enactment of the 'Conversion Bill' as evidence. " Within the borough, it is evident that additional age-restricted units would not be viable," the draft states.

At the March 1 meeting, Gleitz said the housing units, expected to start at $400,000, are "designed to meet the needs of the empty nester." Representatives also said that young, professional couples with dual incomes are also potential buyers.

Next steps, in a schedule provided by Brian Nelson, the borough’s director of law, can be viewed alongside this story. 

At the March 15 council meeting, a resolution is expected to be considered by the council, directing the borough planning board to conduct a “redevelopment investigation” for the Newman Tract for inclusion in the redevelopment plans. 

“I am hopeful that the proposed amendments to the redevelopment plan and agreement will enable this site to be redeveloped in a responsible fashion. This will eliminate a long-standing eyesore while providing a net benefit to the borough's taxpayers, which is particularly important in light of the impending closure of Fort Monmouth occurring later this year,” said Tinton Falls Mayor Mike Skudera.