Oceanport taps public views on fort future
First of three public meetings held; planner outlines concept
BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

OCEANPORT - - Officials hosted a public meeting Saturday to discuss future development plans for the Fort Monmouth property that falls within the borough's boundaries.

The April 14 meeting was the first of three meetings to be held to provide public participation in the development planning process for Oceanport property located on Fort Monmouth, Mayor Lucille Chaump said in an interview after the meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held May 5, the time and location to be announced.

"I highly recommend and strongly urge the public to attend," Chaump said. "We are trying to get as much community input as possible."

At the meeting, planner John Clarke, of Clarke Caton Hintz, presented a conceptual plan for the approximately 419 acres of Oceanport land at the fort.

The proposed plan includes developing a medical campus center, waterfront residential units and a transportation hub, according to Chaump.

Other uses for the property could also include an office/campus area, residential neighborhoods and a mixed-use village center, Chaump said.

The borough is expected to complete its conceptual plan for the Oceanport property by June and submit it to the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization and Planning Authority (FMERPA), which is overseeing the future use of the entire Fort Monmouth property.

Chaump explained the borough was not ordered to develop its own plan, but council decided to hire a planner in order to include Oceanport residents' input in the redevelopment process.

FMERPA's deadline to submit the final redevelopment plan for the fort is Dec. 7, 2007, according to Chaump.

The planning firm was retained by the borough in December to design a Fort Monmouth conceptual plan for Oceanport.

The borough entered into a $181,650 contract with the firm, according to Chaump.

In addition to designing a plan, Chaump said another responsibility of the planners is to host public meetings to gain an understanding of the vision of Oceanport residents for the property at the fort.

The initial meeting was attended by Chaump, Clarke, members of council, the borough economic development committee, representatives from the planning firm and approximately 35 residents.

After hearing the planners' conceptual plans for the fort property, Chaump said members of the public recommended additional uses for the land, including an age-restricted community center and a shopping center.

Other recommendations from the public included allowing the hotel and hospital buildings already at the fort to retain those uses.

"The planners now have to decide whether any of these suggestions are feasible," Chaump said.

"[The planners] had an open dialogue with the public on what they would like to see at the fort," she said. "And now they have to go back and fine-tune the plan with what the public said at the meeting."

In developing its conceptual plan, the planners met with the borough economic development committee twice, toured the fort and researched several issues surrounding the property at the fort.

Among the issues being studied are environmental constraints, existing traffic conditions, infrastructure issues, open space and recreation facilities.

Members of the public seeking additional information can call borough hall at (732) 222-8221.