Phase two of Keyport waterfront proposal underway MELISSA L. GAFFNEY, Staff Writer,The Courier, May 8 Posted:05/09/08
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Keyport Mayor Robert Bergen and Borough Administrator Peter Valesi held a meeting on Thursday, May 1, to address business owners’ concerns with the proposed waterfront plan.
Bergen said the meeting was for business owners and residents to see where they fall “spatially and physically” on the project rendering.
Valesi also said the meeting was intended to be an “informational session” for property owners along Front Street.
Bergen said phase two of the waterfront includes reconstruction of American Legion Drive, an access road along the back of Front Street, recreational “green” areas and parking.
The mayor said part of the reason why the borough designed this project was to increase foot traffic downtown and therefore boost the economy, as well as make Keyport more appealing to the Bayshore.
Bergen said a welcome center near Beach Street Park would also be included in the plan. He said the ultimate goal is to make Downtown more attractive to Monmouth County. “The borough wants to get people [into Keyport] to generate more economic activity,” he said.
When it came to addressing Keyport’s current aesthetics, the mayor said the borough is prepared to keep the area clean. “The borough is going to maintain any recreational areas,” he said. “It plans to test a volunteer park ranger program. There will also be garbage cans placed along the waterfront.”
Bergen said the project is estimated to cost $1.5 million, of which the borough will have to provide about $750,000.
“The project wasn’t rated high when it was considered for state funding because there was too much parking and not enough park on the plan,” Bergen explained.
He said the borough might receive an additional grant from Monmouth County for $250,000. Bergen also said the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program could provide up to $1.4 million on a matching basis. “We’re obviously going to try and get more funding,” he said.
Business owner Ed Burlew, of Magic Touch Construction Company, Inc., said the proposed parks and recreational spaces are not bad things, but that municipal funding could be an issue. “When residents realize they’re going to have to pay for some of this, they’re going to change their attitude about it,” he said.
Parking
Bergen said parking spaces downtown would number about 300 when construction is complete. “This includes pre-existing lots,” he noted. “If we end up needing overflow parking, the space is there.”
The mayor said the biggest parcel was dedicated for the most parking. Bergen also said the borough has other places to park cars, if necessary.
Valesi noted how this proposal is generous in its parking capacity. “This is probably the maximum Green Acres will take for impervious coverage in that area,” he said. “I think the engineer has done what he can to make this work.”
Bergen also said the parking layout has not changed significantly from the original plan. “The Borough Council’s consensus was to eliminate 20 parking spots from the original plan,” he said. “The council voted and gave the engineer direction to remove those spots and create more green area.”
Burlew said the borough needs more parking in this plan, especially if it wants to encourage restaurants and businesses to thrive. “I’m making the assumption this [situation] is going to get worse before it gets better,” he said.
Bergen disagreed and said he does not believe the borough is taking spots away from businesses.
Councilwoman Christian Bolte, owner of The Clever Hen on West Front Street, said she does not believe business owners are representative of the entire town when it comes to determining the amount of parking needed.
Ultimately, the parking issue will be ongoing in the growing community, which the mayor said would be good for the town were it to arise again in the future.
“In the end, we need a parking garage,” he said. “I’d build one tomorrow if [the borough] could afford it.”
While the bulkhead and boat ramp are complete, Bergen said the hope is to start construction on the rest of the waterfront in the fall. “[The borough] wants to keep Downtown open as best it can for the summer,” he said. “We have things [in Keyport] other communities don’t have and want to see more people come out to enjoy them.”
Bergen said if any resident has any questions regarding the project rendering or waterfront plan, they should feel free to call Borough Hall at (732) 739-3900.
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