660 New Homes Approved By Freehold Township Planning Board

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — A general development plan for the 77.34-acre property known as the Bellemead parcel, which is located on Trotters Way between Route 537 and Route 9 was approved by the planning board.

The developer, M&M Main Street, presented their concept plan to build 660 townhouses, apartments, and single-family homes, as well as retail space and a gas station across from the entrance to Freehold Raceway Mall, at the board meeting last week.

M&M Main Street was represented by attorney Salvatore Alfieri, Ronald Aulenbach of M&M Realty Partners and Edgewood Properties, traffic engineer Matthew Seckler, planner Christine Cofone and engineer Jeffrey Martell.

Aulenbach provided an overview of the planned residential units, which include:

• 90 single-family homes on the east side of the Trotters Way Extension.
• 256 rental townhouse units, including 38 luxury units, on the west side of the Trotters Way Extension.
• 214 rental apartments and 100 affordable housing units on the west side of the Trotters Way Extension south of County Route 537.
• Community commercial space, which includes retail space and a commercial convenience store and a gas station.

One of the key elements of the development plan, according to Township Engineer Timothy White, who represents the Planning Board, is the proposed Trotters Way extension, which would be built during the first phase of development.

The extension would run from Route 537 through Bellemead and intersect Route 9 south near an existing traffic signal in front of the Freehold Mall shopping center.

The purpose of the Trotters Way extension, according to traffic engineer Matthew Seckler, is to relieve traffic congestion at the nearby Route 9 and Barkalow Avenue interchange.

M&M expects the development to be completed in four stages over a 20-year period. Despite the fact that the applicant requested and received a 20-year development time frame, Aulenbach stated that the applicant's goal is to complete the work in less than 20 years.

Following the testimony, Alfieri informed the board members that if the development plan was approved, each element of the project would still require an application to the Planning Board and a public hearing.

The general development plan was approved by board members.

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