TIMES
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
Inside This Week’s Edition
THE MANCHESTER
Vol. 22 - No. 24
–Photo by Manchester Times The rule that limits how much of a lot can be built upon is scaring away developers from Manchester, council said. Council meeting. Currently, only 30 percent of a lot in Manchester may be impervious, or built on. That number includes parking lots. Fusaro and Weiner want that percentage to increase along areas designated “town squares.” “If approved, we would be allowed to increase the impervious coverage of certain areas within the town centers. This would then allow for the potential of a few more sites in Manchester to be developed and in turn bring more jobs into town as well as
Pet Ministries Bless Four-Legged Friends
T
By Lois Rogers he fifth annual Blessing of the Animals, Pet Fair and Pet Adoption Day unfolded on the wide green lawns behind St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Herbertsville Road, Brick, with scores of critters and the “service humans” who gathered with them for recognition of their place in God’s creation. One-by-one and sometimes two-by-two, as in the case of a couple of pooches who rode a cart to receive their blessings from Pastor Alan Darby, the critters reflected the peaceable kingdom at its best. The sense of tranquility continued even after the pets (Friends - See Page 7)
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Manchester Says State Rule A Hurdle To More Development
By Jennifer Peacock MANCHESTER – A rule that states how much of a lot can be built upon, if changed, could help Manchester find more sites to develop. Members of Cou ncil want to see a change in the State mandates governing development, specifically, what percentage of a lot may be developed. Council vice president Samuel Fusaro and Councilman Brendan Weiner discussed the desired changes at the September 12
Business Directory .............26-27 Classifieds................................29 Community News...............10-15 Dr. Izzy’s Sound News...............20 Fun Page..................................28 Health.................................20-21 Inside The Law ..........................21 Letters to the Editor....................8 Wolfgang.................................35
move some of the tax burden off the residents and onto the commercial property owners,” Weiner said. “If these designations are not approved it will continue to be an uphill battle to bring in new commercial development into Manchester simply because we are competing with towns that allow 80 percent impervious.” According to the N.J. Department of State website, “The State Plan provides a vision for the future that will preserve (Development - See Page 5)
To�nship Places Liens On Homes It Cleans Up
–Photo by Jennifer Peacock This property in Pine Lake Park recently had a lien placed against it after the township came in to clean it up. By Jennifer Peacock More properties in town recently got hit with liens. It’s just a few hundred dollars here and a few hundred dollars there, but the township is keeping its promise to put liens on properties when the township had to use man hours to maintain overgrown properties around town. At a recent Council meeting, the township approved the placing of liens on six more properties, joining a growing list of properties the township has had to clean up. “We’re certainly trying to take proactive (Township - See Page 9)
County Adds 70 More Acres To Manchester-Forked River Preservation
By Bob Vosseller OCEA N COU NT Y – With 1,760 acres already preserved, 70 more acres around Roosevelt City in Manchester and the Forked River Mountains adjoining the parcel are next for preservation by the county. Ocean County Principal Planner Mark A. C. Villinger said that the Ocean County Department of Plan-
ning purchased a 1,760 acre Str uctural Management property in 2014: “This property encompasses a vast area between Lacey and Manchester Townships and includes much of the forested area surrounding Roosevelt City which backs up to State land. It’s a property that we have known about for some time as portions of the property is one of the
focused projects areas, the Forked River Mountains.” “The more recent proposed acquisition of the additional 70 plus acres will f ill in some of the holdings we acquired in the Roosevelt City area and expand the green space there,” Villinger said. Villinger added that this area is a target for the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust
Fund Program as well as many other conservation agencies including the State and non-profit groups such as the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. David J. McKeon, Planning Director for the Ocean County Planning Department said the previous 1,760 acres acquisition was the largest purchase to date under the (Preservation - See Page 16)