BERKELEY – The Planning Board hearing for the Berkeley 9 Estates in the former WOBM pit has been postponed yet again.
A developer wants to build houses and commercial structures attached to a quiet neighborhood off Route 9, near Grant Concourse. Radio station WOBM used to have property out there but it’s vacant now. It’s just an expanse of dirt trails. It’s known locally as the WOBM pit, especially by riders of off-road vehicles.
The actual plan for the development could change by the time it gets heard. In 2019, it was 60 homes and some commercial property.
At a recent Planning Board meeting, township planner James Oris said it was senior housing. Requests to his office to determine if the number of homes had changed, or if there were amenities like a clubhouse, were not returned for this article.
He said to the planning board that the developer had met with the public. One part of the feedback was that the residents were concerned about overcrowding in schools. As senior housing, that would reduce that issue. They would be standalone homes, as opposed to apartments or condos.
The Planning Board recently passed a resolution allowing the developer a postponement until April of 2022.
The developer was not present at the Planning Board meeting. The hearing had been postponed multiple times already.
A petition against the development is at change.org/p/mayor-carmen-amato-say-no-to-berkeley-nine-estates
“Our roads are already overburdened with horrendous traffic…Our water aquifer CANNOT withstand even MORE impervious surface being laid, without proper replenishment due to those roads,” the petitioner stated. “This developer is asking the planning board to accept their application for MANY variances. Variances that seek to change the current specifications the town already has in place. Zoning that was put in place to meet state regulations should NOT be overlooked and overturned simply because enough MONEY was thrown at the issue! We cannot DRINK money, when the water runs dry! And the only ones that will have enough to BUY water will be those responsible for the desecration!! We’ll be busy being over taxed to death for all the new things the town will need to accommodate this.”
Residents have been concerned that if the developer might win approval to build more homes than currently allowed. This is an example of a variance, and the developer would have to make their case to the Planning Board for it to happen.
