Boro urged not to sell riverfront lot
Mayor says sale would help offset budget increase
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer
There is growing opposition to the possible sale of one of the last remaining borough owned riverfront properties on the east side of town.

CHRIS KELLY staff The borough may sell this vacant waterfront lot at the end of Maple Avenue.

The Red Bank Environmental Commission as well as members of the Borough Council are among those opposed to the sale of the vacant lot situated along the Navesink at the foot of Maple Avenue.

The Borough Council approved the hiring of an appraiser March 10 to assess the value of the lot.

Mayor Pasquale Menna said the sale of the lot could help with tax relief for the 2008-09 proposed budget, which calls for a 7.7-cent increase per $100 of assessed valuation.

"As everyone knows, the state has come down very hard on municipalities. Our budgets are slashed. The council is going to have to make some difficult decisions to fire some people or to dispose of certain assets to continue the current level of government," saidMenna.

He added, "Meanwhile that is an underutilized asset. It has never been a utilized asset, and it's a valuable property that can give relief to our taxpayers, especially those who have very little income."

However, the Red Bank Environmental Commission (EC) has passed a resolution opposing the sale of the property.

"The EC felt that this was waterfront property andRedBank has very little publicaccess waterfront. It is an area that has been talked about for a long time to extend the riverfront along, and if someone built there it would make it more difficult," said commission President Louis DiMento. "Environmentally … if you build something, it will obstruct the view of the waterfront. Eventually it could be for better uses."

Borough Council members Mary-Grace Cangemi, John P. Curley and Sharon Lee are also opposed to selling the property.

"I'mreally opposed to selling the last opportunity for riverfront access that we have for our citizens. We lost most of our riverfront access on the east side of Red Bank. I really don't think that it benefits citizens to sell the property," said Lee.

She added, "It's about quality of life in RedBank, andwe've given awaymore of our waterfront than we should have.We're surrounded by water and our citizens can't access it."

Cangemi said she does not think selling the property is a sound economic plan.

"I don't think that you use an asset for tax relief, because once you sell all your assets, you have no way of providing the same relief next year. You don't use capitalmoney for anything other than capital projects," said Cangemi.

After introducing the budget on March 10, CouncilmanMichael R. DuPont and the Finance Committeemade recommendations including a freeze on hiring and spending, considering a delay in the road improvement program, and evaluating the sale of borough assets that are not being used to their full potential, like theMapleAvenue lot.

"I feel that the politicians should be the trustees of our assets, and as such, protect the assets of the residents ofRedBank," said former Red Bank resident Cindy Burnham, who also opposes the sale of the property.

Burnham owns property in Red Bank and said the lot should be made into a public access boat area for residents.

"Red Bank is the hippest town in Monmouth County, a town that glorifies the NavesinkRiver and holds somany functions around the river, like River Fest, Jazz in the Park on the Navesink River, Fireworks on the Navesink, etc., but there's nowhere, there's no place for a Red Bank resident to put a small boat or kayak in the river to access the river," said Burnham.

Burnham said the Maple Avenue property is an important piece to complete one of the goals of the borough'smaster plan,which is to construct a riverwalk fromthe east side of town to the west side.

"RedBank has donemore than any other community in this area to provide waterfront access for the public, most of which public are non-Red Bank residents," respondedMenna.

He noted Riverside Gardens Park, Marine Park, Locust Landing and the ongoing development of a west side access point to the river on Sunset Avenue among the borough's efforts to provide recreational opportunities on the water for residents and neighbors.

"I respect the open space access, but it costs money. And unless we get free money fromthe state,which theywon't give us, our taxpayers are paying enough," saidMenna.

He said the appraiser has not yet assessed the property, but after the appraisal, it is up to the council to decide what to do next.

"After we get the appraisal, then it is up to the council to make a number of very difficult decisions as to whether or not employees have

to be let go, services have to be reduced, or taxes have to go up, or perhaps we could equalize it with the sale of various properties which we are currently not using," saidMenna.

Menna said the lot is zoned for a number of different uses such as for an office building, townhomes, condominiums or other housing opportunities.

"The lot is probably the most incredible view in all of Monmouth County and we haven't even been using it," saidMenna.

Burnham, for her part, said she is urging all Red Bank residents to come out to the next councilmeetingApril 14 at 5:30 p.m. to support keeping the river open to all.