TINTON FALLS — A developer is seeking approval for an age-restricted apartment building that would include units for tenants who are clients of the Arc of Monmouth.

At the Aug. 18 Tinton Falls Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting, the board began hearing an application from TRG NJ LLC, which is seeking approval to develop a three-story apartment building at 1200 Wayside Road, next to the Arc of Monmouth main office.

The new building would include 51 age -restricted affordable units along with 12 units specifically designed for Arc clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities and one unit that would be utilized by Arc staff.

John Giunco, attorney for the developer, explained during the first hearing on the application that the 12 Arc units are non-agerestricted but have a specific intent.

“What this plan proposes is that they integrate into the community,” he said. “The fact of the matter is that this is not a drug or alcohol rehabilitation matter, nor are the residents in that type of rehabilitation function.”

He also explained the age-restricted affordable units

“This is not assisted living, this is not designed to have care,” Giunco said. “This is affordable-housing senior living.

“This isn’t designed to have the clubhouse and the pool and those types of things, this is a different kind of development,” he added.

Brick-based civil engineer Joseph Hanrahan gave the first expert testimony on the application.

He said the proposal is for a 65,000- square-foot building and would include 118 parking spots.

The unit dedicated toArc staff would be manned 24 hours a day and will serve as an office and preparation room.

Giunco said that all of the Arc units are individual units and that Arc staff would have 24-hour access to those units.

“We do provide interconnecting doors for the Arc staff to be able to go back and forth between units,” Giunco said.

Hanrahan said that one of the parking spots is designated for an Arc van.

Along with having space for the Arc van, there would be a loading area at the development that would be mainly for pickup from the Monmouth County SCAT bus.

Hanrahan also explained the landscape design for the apartment complex.

“The project proposes a complete landscape package in compliance with borough standards,” he said. “It proposes a variety of trees and shrubbery that are esthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly.

“In addition, the project proposes a 6- foot band of wetlands plantings around the retention basin at the water surface,” he added. “This will enhance water quality and species habitat.”

Awavier sought for the project involves a retention wall that is designed to be higher than the 2 feet allowed in borough ordinances.

Hanrahan explained that if the height is a sticking point, the design can comply with borough standards, but there are more benefits in granting the project a waiver.

“We can comply, but I think it is a better design to have the larger wall and maintain the tree buffer at the front,” he said.

The developer is also requesting a rearparking waiver because the spaces are farther than 150 feet to the entrance.

Some of the questions that members of the Zoning Board had involved whether ramps or other special entranceways would be needed.

Giunco explained that the Arc residents would not require accommodations for physical disabilities.

“They are ambulatory; this is not [for] physical [disabilities] but intellectually and developmentally disabled,” he said.

The plans for the complex include a gazebo and a courtyard that would provide recreation space for the residents.

There was also some concern from the board about the amount of activity space for the residents.

Hanrahan said there should be enough to accommodate the building.

“The project does propose a courtyard area within the U shape of the building and a gazebo in the rear of the building,” he said. “I do feel that there is a decent amount of open space area for activities to accommodate all the residents of the building.”

Along with the courtyard and gazebo, Hanrahan said plans call for an indoor patio area and an exercise room.

Resident Denise Catalano asked Giunco what the timetable for construction would be, and he said that if approved by the board, construction on the project would start in six to eight months.

Catalano would be a neighbor of the development, and she and some of her neighbors questioned the impact the complex would have on storm-water runoff and the level of a nearby brook located just off-site.

Hanrahan said there would not be a large impact.

“We have studied the brook and [the project’s] impact on the brook, and what it results in is a negligible impact,” he said, adding that there would be between a quarter inch and half-inch storm-water rise within the brook.

TheArc of Monmouth serves more than 1,400 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 25 locations throughout Monmouth County. The Arc provides employment, vocational and educational services, adult training, community living programs, health care, social services and recreational activities.

According to the website, these programs and supports are designed to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities with living, learning, working and playing as integrated members of the community.

The hearing on the application is scheduled to continue at the next Zoning Board meeting on Sept. 1.