What is happening to Red Bank? Our small town is turning into a congested mini-city.

On Dec. 11 the Red Bank Zoning Board, in a decision of 4-2, approved the application from Building and Land Technology to build a 29-unit, expensive housing development on Red Bank’s west side on Monmouth, West and Oakland streets.

This approval sets a precedent and can be the beginning of high density construction that will change the character of Red Bank forever. A change that will dramatically add to Red Bank’s terrible traffic congestion and give reason to resurrect the need for the infamous parking garage. According to the applicant’s professional planner, this application is part of Red Bank’s master plan to construct up to 320 new housing units in and around the Red Bank train station

The zoning board approved variances for this applicant for double the legal density and for a number of site plan setbacks from residents’ homes. Residents who opposed this application addressed the zoning board with very reasonable pleas to have the developer scale the application down to fit into the neighborhood. It’s just too big.

This is not a one-neighborhood problem. Construction of Corinthian Cove on Front Street is squeezing five or more townhouses in between the Red Bank Library and the Bluffs. The Classic Car Garage and homes on Monmouth Street are up for sale. It is our understanding they are tagged for an upper-income, high-rise condo development. The former Shell station on Maple Avenue and Monmouth Street is planned to become another three- or four-story office building. The empty 2 acres next to the construction of the Two River Theatre Company on Bridge Avenue are reported to be tagged for high-rise condos and a new street connecting Bridge Avenue to town.

Large-scale construction such as this will definitely alter the character of Red Bank from a friendly town to a congested mini-city. Isn’t it time Red Bank’s Borough Council, Planning and zoning board take a long look at the obvious big picture and not each application in a vacuum?

Planned development can be good. Approval of high-density construction applications that violate the tried-and-true zoning regulations are wrong and only benefit the developer and builder.

Gerald G. Haggerty

Red Bank