Manalapan Planners To Hear Affordable Housing Proposal April 8

MANALAPAN, NJ - A Pennsylvania-based developer is set to resume its public hearing on April 8 before the Manalapan Planning Board for a proposed affordable housing community on Ire Ore Road, according to municipal documents (see meeting information below).

Toll Brothers, Inc.’s proposal includes preliminary and final major subdivision and site plan approval for 224 market rate townhouses in 65 buildings, alongside 96 multi-family affordable rental units on a 57-acre parcel bordering Millstone Township northeast of the intersection of Iron Ore Road and Route 33. All 320 housing units will not be age restricted.

The property is currently used for horse boarding activities, according to the meeting minutes of the developer's initial March 11 testimony. A train track runs through the property, as well as freshwater areas delineated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The affordable housing units are set to consist of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments built in four three-story buildings on two separate lots. Each unit would include a washer/dryer, and heating and air conditioning units.

The development will not require any variances, according to meeting documents.

A 2,200-square-foot community room at one of the four apartment buildings is proposed for residents, as well as a 4,450-square-foot clubhouse, two pools and several children's play lots. Significant landscape is proposed throughout the development, including 268 street trees, 51 parking lot trees, 676 decorative trees and over 3,700 shrubs, as well as a 15-foot landscape buffer.

According to testimony from the first hearing, the clubhouse and pools will only be available to residents of the development.

The 160 proposed three-bedroom townhouses will include patios and decks, a two-car garage and a two-car driveway. 64 proposed three-bedroom townhouses are set to include a single-car garage and a single-car driveway. Townhouses would have about 2,100 square feet of living space and be included in buildings of two, three and four units with a basement and an optional loft, according to testimony. Guest parking will be provided for 114 spaces.

The next planning board meeting will take place virtually at 7:30 p.m. on April 8. Click here for meeting access information.