Holmdel Residents Happy Affordable Rental Complex Nixed by Planning Board

Holmdel, NJ - Residents say they are very happy the Holmdel Planning Board voted to deny an affordable housing complex from being built on Palmer Avenue.

The unanimous ”no” vote was handed down Tuesday night after months of meetings.

“My heart goes out to the working poor, single mothers, working people,” Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds, who sits on the planning board, told Patch. “But at the end of the day this was not the right place for this.”

More than 50 people came to the meeting Tuesday to protest the proposal, a 60-unit, 23,000-square foot apartment building for low- and moderate-income tenants proposed for a lot across from Middlewood Road and Clubhouse Drive. It would be built partially using Sandy federal aid dollars, which meant victims from Superstorm Sandy would be given first priority to live there.

However, Hinds said it was never made clear how many Sandy victims would be able to live in the building. He also echoed concerns that the property sits in a flood plain.

“I know what this sounds like: Oh, the people of Holmdel don’t want affordable housing near their million-dollar houses,” Ana Thomas, a local real estate agent, told Patch. “But my bedroom window looks out on Palmer Avenue and it floods, 8, 9, 10 times a year.”

“Why in God’s name would anyone build a large complex like that for Sandy victims? Why would they want to move in there and be exposed to more flooding like that?” she asked.

An engineer for the developer, The Alpert Group, said they would include two basins to help with stormwater runoff, according to the Asbury Park Press.

“There was no proof that would make it any better,” said Hinds. ”Palmer Avenue floods every single time there is a rainstorm.”

He said there were other concerns, as well: The building was too long, and he didn’t like that the units did not have their own washers and dryers.

“It sounded too much like a city apartment block then a suburban condo-style structure,” he said. “They are going to have to find somewhere else.”

A call to the developer was not returned.

Photos: Palmer Avenue flooded during a rainstorm, in pictures provided by Ana Thomas.