Opponents Of Potter's Farm Project In Holmdel To Be Heard July 20

HOLMDEL, NJ —Opponents of the development of a dementia care facility on a tract of land formerly Potter's Farm will have a chance to be heard at the next meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Kevin Asadi of Shrewsbury, the lawyer for the Preserve Potter's Farm group, many of whom are residents of nearby Country Woods, said he will call experts and also include testimony from the public. The meeting is July 20 and begins at 7 p.m. at the municipal building.

"We have two expert witnesses, " he said. They include an administrator of a dementia care facility and a professional planner, he said.

"Members of the public still have the opportunity to ask questions," he added.

Dubbed The Enclave At Holmdel, the project draws inspiration from the model of care found at Hogewey Dementia Village in Amsterdam, according to a previous Patch article written when the project was first brought before the board.

Developers seek to create a sort of village that mimics the real world, with apartment-style houses, front porches, gardens to walk around and even a grocery store. There's also a focus on aesthetics, with a contemporary take on the farmhouse design.

The owner of the site is the healthcare nonprofit United Methodist Communities. The developers returned to the zoning board July 6 with some changes. The board will hear objections to the proposal on July 20 and there may be action taken on the proposal then if all testimony is concluded, the town said.

The Potter's Farm 18-acre tract is off exit 114 on the Garden State Parkway on Red Hill Road, and its bucolic setting known by some as the "Gateway to Holmdel" is more in keeping with development in town, opponents say.

Asadi said the area is zoned for low-density housing "to protect its rural charm," something that would be destroyed by the proposed use.

The developers require a variance for the proposal.

One force behind the preservation effort is a teenage resident who lives in Country Woods, Jacob Samardin, who has created a site about the history of the farm and its role today and who also set up a petition drive to support its preservation.

According to the website, Samardin says his "goal isn't to challenge the need for the proposed $27 million dollar facility for dementia/memory-care. I just strongly believe a different location would be better and more appropriate.

"The entity that currently owns Potter's Farm is Enclave at Holmdel Inc. UMC Enclave is a not-for -profit corporation and therefore is tax exempt. I worry that people do not know this and will mistakenly believe that this dementia facility will generate tax revenue for Holmdel. This is simply not true and people need to be aware of this fact.

"My goal is simply to raise awareness about the plans that will result in the shut-down of historic Potter’s Farm forever and to preserve the landscape, animals and the unique charm that Potter’s Farm provides to our community," the website says.

Potter’s Farm remains zoned for single-family use (allowable density of one-single family home per one acre of land), the website says.

It says Potter’s Farm has been operating as a working farm since well before 1841. According to the Holmdel Historic Society, the William Potter Homestead was built by Mathias Conover in 1841 and William Potter acquired the land in 1920 and 1925.

"This land and its modern day use as a working farm gives character to Holmdel and helps make/keep Holmdel a historic and agriculturally based community that is unique and special," the website says.

Samardin's mother, Yeugenia Samardin, and Asadi both expressed support for Samardin's efforts with the petition. "He's very inspirational for a kid his age," Asadi observed.

The Citizens for Informed Land Use in Holmdel is also studying the proposed use.

"CILU is continuing to study the impact that the development will have on the headwaters of the Mahoras Brook, in particular whether the developer is following the new NJ DEP green stormwater guidelines that went into effect in March 2021," the website says.

In 1998, Holmdel residents, concerned about rapid growth and development in our town, formed the citizens’ organization to "promote informed and thoughtful land use, protect our natural resources and preserve our quality of life—considering all the consequences for the future," according to the CILU website.

In February, the township of Middletown said it formally objects to the proposed memory care center, as well. Lawyers for Middletown sent a letter to the Holmdel Zoning Board, letting Holmdel know that Middletown objects to the application.