It’s typical that anyone who says, “Hang on a minute”, about the proposed – although we all know it’s done and dusted – Red Bank Station Redevelopment will be branded as a “NIMBY“. First in line are the council’s trusty YIMBY army of New York rejects working their socks off in social media, in particular on Facebook’s notoriously partisan “Red Bank Chatter” page.
Unfortunately, there is also a tendency even on Bluesky.
Let me make clear the opponents of the scheme as proposed are fully aware of the issues in this cool little town. Yes, a two square mile community knows any equitable, sustainable and appropriate development requires high density elements to fulfill aims such as fulfilling affordable housing targets and be a part of a thriving community.
But we also recognise that planning and zoning laws are actually formulated to produce the inappropriate and lucrative development proposed here. Much of the specification has been formulated by the notorious parking requirement regulations which promote streets for cars over safe streets for the pedestrians and cyclists in the community as well as their toxic environmental effects.
The Denholtz/NJT development will partition the town, east from west and literally invoke that expression, “the wrong side of the tracks”, depending on which side you think is “wrong“, obviously. This is not a concept we should be developing in a cohesive, equitable community.
No plans for infrastructure improvements. The state of the sewers was revealed when preparatory work for this development smashed the line running through the centre of the project releasing thousands of gallons of toxic waste into the Navesink, a tragedy NJDEP managed to minimise. Lucky owners and tenants of these architect designed carbuncles will gaze out at a 25kV transmission line and associated pylons.
There is no reference to traffic effects in this already congested town. The developer has already tickled councillors with concepts like woonerf*, a term they learnt on Bluesky, and visions of European vistas, architecture and town planning.
* A Dutch concept of “livable” streets in case you’re wondering…
Also, no traffic study on the impact of up to 900 parking spaces, 400 apartments, and an unknown number of destination stores and services. No sunshine map despite the height and size of the blocks, no environmental impact report on heat island effect, air quality, Green Check, bird impact estimations, school admissions, safe routes, etc..
And no one ever thought to ask the people who live here what they would like…
