Planning Board to hear west side application

RED BANK - The Planning Board will continue hearing an application to construct a warehouse on the borough's west side at its May 21 meeting.

The application, by William Duckworth, seeks approval to demolish an existing building and build another, larger building in its place, at 11-13 Leonard St.

Duckworth, owner of Red Bank Recycling, appeared May 7 along with his attorney, Martin McGann, and engineer, James Kennedy.

Several board members expressed concern when they learned that the proposal before them nearly doubled the height of the storage building, from an initial proposed height of 18 feet to 32 feet.

The storage building proposed is 5,600 square feet. The present structure is 991 square feet.

McGann agreed that the change in the proposal, along with the plan's being submitted less than 10 days prior to the meeting, required that further notice be given to the public.

The board agreed with McGann that the present structure, which is used as office space, is dilapidated and structurally obsolete.

Board member Sharon Lee asked Duckworth if he had any plans to extend the rail line, which passes well within several hundred yards of the site.

Duckworth said he did not have any plans to extend the rail line.

The next Planning Board meeting will be held May 21 at 7 p.m. Duckworth's application will be revisited at that time, with an opportunity for questions or testimony from the public.

The file, as with all applications before the Planning and Zoning boards, is available for inspection at borough hall, third floor, 90 Monmouth St.