HAPPY MARCH BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY TO THE FOLLOWING RESIDENTS

GREENBERG PHYLLIS & HARRY MARCH 2 A
SHANDLER LAURA MARCH 5 B
SPECTOR HELEN & NORM MARCH 5 A
SACHS JAY MARCH 7 B
WEISSMAN JULES MARCH 8 B
FEINGOLD MARVIN MARCH 9 B
DANIELS HOWARD MARCH 10 B
ISAACS BOB MARCH 10 B
HERMAN CAROL & STEVE MARCH 11 A
JASLOW MERRILL MARCH 11 B
ROSS KAREN & HANK MARCH 11 A
KATZ LAINI MARCH 12 B
CAINS LARRY MARCH 13 B
KORTMANSKY CAROL MARCH 13 B
BARTON RO MARCH 14 B
JASON STU MARCH 15 B
LEVY SARA MARCH 15 B
BARNETT JOEL MARCH 16 B
DEUTCHMAN RON MARCH 16 B
KAPLAN JOEL MARCH 16 B
ABRAMS LINDA MARCH 17 B
KALOMEER BOB MARCH 17 B
CONIGLIO JOANNE MARCH 18 B
JACKLIN MARILYN & BOB MARCH 20 A
SUSSMAN JANE MARCH 20 B
STREAR MITCH MARCH 22 B
BALIFF ELLEN MARCH 23 B
COHEN HERB MARCH 23 B
GURSKY JANET & JACK MARCH 23 A
YESNER ARLENE & LARRY MARCH 23 A
KRAWET SAM MARCH 24 B
WALLER MEL MARCH 25 B
WOLFF NINA MARCH 25 B
WACHS SANDY & HOWIE MARCH 27 A
FLEISCHER ED MARCH 28 B
ABRAMS MARTY MARCH 29 B
ROTH MARVIN MARCH 29 B
MOLLEN ARLINE & GOODIE MARCH 30 A
SENACK SHELLY & GARY MARCH 30 A
GLASSMAN ALLEN MARCH 31 B

RESIDENT PURCHASING GROUP CONTRACTS

If you look to the left side of my blog you will find two areas that deal with our Resident Purchasing Group.

The first area is called:
GROUP PURCHASING CONTRACTS

Under this heading you will find:
**EXTERMINATOR - FREEHOLD PEST CONTROL
**SECURITY MONITORING - ALARM RELAY
RESIDENT RECOMMENDATIONS (NO NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS)

If there are two ** in front of the item this means that YOUR Resident Purchasing Group has negotiated a contract with a vendor for the service. If you click on the link it would take you to the email which gives you all the details of the contract, including the telephone number to call if you are interested in using this company

Included under the negotiated contracts is YOUR recommendations for various services and or goods or items. Naturally if you are looking for someone to do some work or provide you with some type of goods, this is the area to look at. As you give me more names of reputable individuals who have done a good job, I will add their names to the list. Eventually the Resident Purchasing Group might select 3 or 4 of the vendors from some of the categories to look for better pricing by going out on bid.

The second listing for the Resident Purchasing Group is:
RESIDENTS WHO OFFER SERVICES OR GOODS (I think this is self explanatory)

Under this listing, so far, we have the following residents who provide either a service or offer some goods. Right now we have the following:
COMPUTER SERVICES/REPAIR
HAMMER & NAIL - HOME IMPROVEMENT
HOME THEATRE INSTALLATION
LAVON ART GALLERY

A meeting of the Resident Purchasing Group just took place and we are trying to "fast track" the following services because we realize that you might be signing some contracts for these services:

1. LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCE
2. DRIVEWAYS
3. PLUMBING & HVAC
4. POWERWASHING OF OUR HOMES
5. HOT WATER HEATER SHUTOFF VALVE + SENSOR ALARM TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS WATER COMING OUT OF YOUR HOT WATER HEATER

Our next meeting will be on March 25th and hopefully by that date we will have contracts lined up for the above items. You might want to wait until that time before signing any contracts. Of course, this is your decision to make.

The committee, which currently has 12 resident members, has certainly done an outstanding job. The two contracts we currently have seem to be working out and at the same time it has saved residents a lot of money. Remember, UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. Our strength lies in the number of residents who participate.

TWO OPINIONS ON WHETHER WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE A SHOPPING CENTER ON THE CORNER OF 522 AND SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD

What is great about living in Regency is that we could speak our minds and always remain friends. The issue about the proposed shopping center (522 and Schoolhouse Road) has sparked some differences in opinion.

As the Emailer, I wouldn't just discuss one side of the story but now that I have 2 different opinions it is worth writing about it so that you can decide for yourself where you stand on this issue.

The two opinions will be from the point of view not wanting the shopping center and this will be coming from Mark Klein. The other point of view is having the shopping center and this comes from none other then Regency's Emailer, Ron Post. Please keep in mind that Mark and I are very good friends and we both respect each others opinions.

MARK KLEIN'S COMMENTS OPPOSING THE SHOPPING CENTER

Mark S. Klein

53 Turnberry Drive
Monroe Twp., NJ 08831
732-521-8333

February 27,2008

Ron,

I wanted to respond to your e-mail to Charlie Lerman concerning the proposed shopping mall on Rt522 & Schoolhouse Road.

Let me start off by saying that as you already know in the 5 years I have been a resident of Regency, I was never afraid to take a stand against Toll, the HOA or Management for the betterment of all Regency Residents and not just for myself. In some cases I took a stand in support of others even though it did not affect me. Remember the eight rolls of photos I took of dead lawns, rusty sidewalks and stained homes throughout all phases of Regency, which Kieve and Stu Fingers presented to the Mayor & Town Council, which led to the stoppage of the issuance of new building permits to Toll until these problems were rectified. It worked didn’t it. This is just one example. My aim, whether it is in the articles I wrote to the Home News Tribune, my phone calls to Jim Gearhardt at 101.5FM or my comments at HOA meetings, or in front of the Planning Board and Zoning Board is to light a fire under others to rise up and take a stand for the betterment of life in our Community our State and our Country.

Now we get to my main point, The Market Place at Monroe. In 2004 Renaissance Properties Inc. wanted to build a shopping mall at the same site on 13 acres, which consisted of a bank on the corner of the firehouse and a shopping mall on the other side. Many residents spoke up against it, the reasons given;

1. Too large of a shopping center for a residential zone. Will have 155 parking spaces.

2. Too much additional traffic, both auto and heavy Diesel trucks.

3. Loss of the country setting that most said was the reason for moving to Monroe.

4. The fear of Rt 522 becoming another Applegarth Rd. or RT516 in Old Bridge with block after block of strip shopping malls.

5. The safety of the young children at the two local elementary schools along Rt522 within a short distance to this mall.

6. Not wanting a 24 hour convenience store or a gas station in this area.

7. Some residents stated that “they were threatened by the developer, who stated to them that if they did not come out to support the project and it was turned down, the developer would cut down the trees that are buffers around the side of their properties”

8. Also, many residents who came out in support of the project would be hooked up to the new sewer lines installed for the new shopping center at the full cost of the developer. This would give these residents freedom from using their cesspools and would save them many thousands of dollars if they had to pay for the hook up themselves.

These are just some of the complaints residents made in opposition to the granting of a bulk use variance for this residential zone. The Zoning Board at that time felt that this request should be turned down and the reasons given were as follows I quote:

1. The proposed use was not consistent with the Monroe Township Master Plan, and violates the spirit and intent of the same, and the Zoning Board ordinance.

2. The proposed use is a very intensive use, not compatible with the adjoining properties and the neighborhood.

3. The adjoining properties and the general neighborhood would be adversely impacted and their quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their residential dwelling would be disturbed by the commercial activity proposed.

4. The applicant has failed to demonstrate through the testimony and exhibits offered that the proposed use would be beneficial to the neighborhood and that the detrimental features of the application substantially out weigh the beneficial factors.

5. The applicant has failed to provide a statutory justification for the requested use variance and for the substantial impairment of the promulgated land use policies of the township.

On December 28,2004, the Zoning Board in resolution for BA-669-04, unanimously denied the application.

Now in 2008 the Same developer under a different corporation name cut the development from 13 acres to 6.16 acres just on one side of Schoolhouse Rd and changed the name of the development, but the basics remained the same.

The complaints from the residents were basically the same as in 2004 but with the addition of the fear of the added traffic from the existing High School to be the new Middle School and the new larger High School at School House Road and Perrineville Road.

The local proponents for the shopping center will be hooked up to the new sewer lines including the Firehouse free of charge. The firehouse will have a large extension built to the existing firehouse by the developer for their support of this project. To me this sounds like payoffs and of cause this minority of residents are more interested in themselves then for the betterment of all residents in Monroe Township.

Based on a past New Jersey Supreme Court ruling against a developer who wanted to reapply for a bulk variance after it was turned down, the ruling basically stated that in order to be able to reapply, the plan must be radically changed from the original, meaning a new type of development, drastically changed development, a new developer to name a few. In reality all this developer did was to build on half the acreage, change the name of the development, change the name of the applicant but the plans within the shopping center remained basically the same as the plans in 2004. On this basis the Board could rule not to accept this application, though no decision has been made yet.

This application will continue to be heard at the next Zoning Board meeting on March 25, 2008 with the public portion still open for all residents comments. This hearing is only to have the Board vote on whether the plans are changed enough to allow the applicant to file a request for a bulk use variance for this new planned development. If the Board votes no, then the applicant would have to correct all objections and file a new application along with new plans. If it is approved then the next hearing of the application is the actual site plans, and that is when the applicant will go into great detail as to structural and design plans as well as the types of stores to occupy this space, then everyone can voice their views for or against the application.

Ron,

1. People from Regency are not going to walk to Schoolhouse because of the fear of cars & trucks moving at 45mph. No sidewalks 1001 feet away from front of the planned development. If they are in the car already there are plenty of stores within a 6 minute ride.

2. The residents at Regency living on the outskirts backing to Rt522, RT 613 do you think they will like the increased truck tire and diesel engine noises at early morning, all day and evening, I think not.

3. Do you think these same residents would enjoy the added noises from 100’s of additional cars, and motorcycles traveling these roads during the day and night. I think not.

4. Just think of all the accidents that have occurred during the last 3 years at the intersection of Mount Mills Road and RT522, it would only get worse with the development of this large shopping center and extra traffic.

5. As we all get older and slower how many accidents will occur entering or exiting our main gate?

I am sure if all residents of Regency were given all the facts of the good and bad ramifications of this new development, the bad would far out number the good and the majority of residents would vote down this project. Remember once it is built the town has very little say as to what types of businesses can occupy space there, other then stipulations made upon approval against gas stations, 24 hour convenience stores etc.

Does an additional 5 to 10 minute drive hurt anyone, the answer is no. Is it worth ruining our life style, our rural surroundings and the safety of all residents of Regency and of Monroe Township to allow an overbuilt shopping center in our backyards. I say in all conscience no. Anyone interested are to go to Mr. Tucker’s office at the Monroe Town Hall and all plans, drawings rendering are available for the public to view.

By the way last month the Planning Board approved an application for a large shopping center at Union Valley Road and Applegarth Road, next to the CVS. Now this is an example of a well thought out project. Most of Applegarth is two lanes each way, it is away from the main shopping area on Applegarth, but close enough for the majority of residents of Monroe to reach. Union Valley Road has very few houses directly on it other then the back gate for Encore and Clearbrook. The design was beautiful and well thought out, it would not be an eye saw but would add to our Township.

Also, there is a rumor of a Shop rite and smaller stores to be built across from the Stone Museum, I am trying to find out if this is true.

Please understand that the Zoning Board and Planning Board only wants what is best for our town’s future and I feel the same way and I will always work for what is best for all Residents of Regency as well as Monroe Township.

Sincerely,

Mark Klein

RON POST'S COMMENTS SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED SHOPPING CENTER

I will respond to some of Mark's comments which reflect what most people who OPPOSE the shopping center also feel.

1. As far as the Township's Master Plan and violating this Master Plan and the Zoning Ordinance, the Mayor at the meeting where we wanted to expand the Clubhouse clearly said, the reason why our Clubhouse was made so small was that the Master Plan didn't deal with Clubhouses. The Mayor supported us and clearly stated that the Master Plan needs to be reviewed and updated to the 21st century. So it is time that the Zoning Board review the Master Plan and make it compatible with the changes that have taken place in zoning over the last 25 years.

2. "too much traffic both auto and heavy diesel trucks". Now this is totally outrageous (sorry Mark). What happened in the year 2000 when Toll presented it's POS to the Township's Zoning Board with his building, at that time, of 1800 homes? Did the residents of Monroe Township support maybe 3000, more cars plus visitors, friends and family coming to and from Regency? The answer was YES! Why, you might ask? Well at that time who cared about the traffic and all the diesel trucks, tractors, bulldozers, etc coming in and out of Regency (for a 10 year period). When the residents of Monroe Township became aware that we were going to pay for 950 students going to school.on what we were going to pay in school taxes, traffic was no longer an issue.

3. One thing I agree with Mark on is the betterment of Monroe Township. However, it sounds like what Mark is saying is that by opposing the proposed shopping center this is what the majority of residents of the township would want. Yes, there was an overwhelming majority of residents at the Zoning Board meeting who opposed the shopping center but is this the "majority?" If it is then I will definitely go along with the majority. The only way you would know if the "majority" of residents support or don't support the proposed center is to poll the township. Here at Regency it would be simple to poll the residents. If we poll the Regency residents and the majority supports construction, then I hope that our representatives who are on the Zoning Board would listen to what we have to say and of course to what others have to say but they must not include what their personal feelings are when making a decision. Right now, the "opposition" certainly has made their views known at the Zoning Board meeting and if I sat on the Zoning Board, even though I am for the project, I would vote against it based upon everyone being given the chance to voice their opinions and since it is an open meeting, if those supporting the project don't show, well, they had their opportunity.

4. Mark's comment, "The residents at Regency living on the outskirts backing to Rt522, RT 613 do you think they will like the increased truck tire and diesel engine noises at early morning, all day and evening, I think not".

My response - they wouldn't know if these trucks and/or diesel engines were coming into Regency or going to the proposed site. If we count the amount of trucks and equipment coming in and out of Regency vs. how many trucks go into the proposed site, I think Regency would outnumber the proposed site by a factor of 10X. Imagine those people who live on the outskirts of Regency (like Monroe Hunt) who not only get the truck traffic but the contruction noises. What about the trucks and snowplows that now come into Regency via 522 or 613 or 614? I bet this makes a lot more noise then someone stocking a convenience store, in a truck with milk and bread.

5. Nobody is going to walk to the new site. However, I'd rather travel 2 minutes then 6 or 7 minutes. At my age (and I am still young), convenience is very important. We also are contradictory - we say, there's too much traffic but we say travel further and stay on the roads longer. We talk about accidents - would accidents be more likely to occur if you traveled 2 mintues vs. 7 minutes to your destination and then back home? Here is a little bit of information. Do you know what area in Monroe Township is the most accident prone area? Mark says, 522 and Mt Mills Road, wrong! The answer is - the Stop N Shop parking lot. Surprised? Well, why would anyone want to go to an area to buy Milk or Juice when this area is the most accident prone. Wouldn't it be safer to go to this new area? Believe me I don't think this new area would be as dangerous as you may suspect.

6. We talk about increased traffic to the new area. On Englishtown road two new shopping areas were just built. I lived in Manalapan for 30+ years and traveled on Englishtown Road a lot. These two areas, except maybe for dinner time, have not increased the traffic as much as you might think. As far as Mark's comment about motorcycles, I will personally ban all Regency residents from riding to this new area on their Harley's. Does Mark know something I don't know? That's impossible! Did Mark get a letter from the President of "Hell's Angels" the motorcyclists, that if this shopping center is built then the "Hell's Angels" will be visiting it everyday?

7. We talk about the safety of children and the increase in traffic. Again, Regency's construction presented this increase in traffic to the tune of over 3000 cars and with an entrance/exit on the curvy Mt. Mills Road. If the residents who were living in Monroe Township didn't oppose this TREMENDOUS increase in traffic in those days but are opposing the increased traffic (not even coming close to 3000 cars) because of this new project, then something is wrong. When I mentioned to a township official about viewing a school bus a few years ago coming within inches of hitting a car on the "big" curve, what was the answer, "we are working on it". Where are these 100+ residents who oppose shopping center because of increased accidents. If I lived in Monroe Township with children going to school and the bus travels on Mt. Mills Road, I would be banging on the doors of the Township to fix this problem IMMEDIATELY! Yet we bang on the doors about having a shopping center. To me adding more cars (Regency) to this already dangerous road was a far cry from adding more traffic to 522 and Schoolhouse road. Remember, if I want Milk and Bread, I might be going to 7-Eleven so I am still going to pass this road. I guess maybe passing the road is different then stopping at a proposed site.

8. Many residents opposing the project feel that it would detract from the "country" setting. So when Regency was built why didn't the Monroe Township residents protest and say that the trees located at Regency should be saved as much as possible? Instead, and the last figure I heard, was that over 3500 trees were taken down and probably more to come. When I lived in Manalapan most of Union Hill Road was just trees. Today it is all homes with a shopping center outside of Covered Bridge. My opinion, any adult community being built, the builder should donate land just outside the area for a small shopping center, like Covered Bridge and Rossmor. For those who don't remember, the land on 522 and Schoolhouse Road, it had a gorgeous couple of greenhouses (just kidding - it was disgusting). Eventually it came down and now we have a barren lot with lots of junk and debris on it. From the drawings of the proposed site, the site would definitely enhance the area and even in this declining real estate market, property values would go up knowing that there are close by shopping centers.

9. I don't think donating land, building sewers for the fireshouse should be construed as a "payoff". This is done all the time. Townships even tell builders to help out with the infrastructure of a town by building better roads near the proposed site, Toll will be taking care of the problems of 522 at 613 and 614. I don't think they had to do it but they did it because the township asked for it to be done. Even the curve in Mt. Mills Road, I am not sure but I think Toll will pay the cost.

10. We must all realize that Monroe Township was first classified as a rural area by the postal system. Once Regency was started the area was declassified from rural so we now get all the supermarket flyers. Times are changing and as much as we love all the trees and beauty of the "country", we must change with the times. Land does not increase but people do and with this it brings more construction and building and tree removal. I loved, no I absolutely loved, the trees lining Union Hill Road when we first moved there. However, I realize that eventually they had to be removed in order to prepare for the "population explosion". With that, strip malls, and other things like this would be an eventuality. Do you know that in 1972 in Manalapan, there wasn't even one Chinese Restaurant? Do you know that in 2008 in Monroe Township there isn't even one Diner (except for the Monroe Diner - which is more like a luncheonette). If you go to a very small town of 100 people in Texas, you would probably find a Diner but we don't even have one. I guess what Mark and/or the Mayor would say is that you could travel 15 minutes to the Americana or the Manalapan Diner. Put a Diner in Monroe Township, well you would have to put it where nobody lives, so naturally which Diner owner would put a Diner in an unpopulated area? But allow another Bank to be built, sure we need more banks!

11. Mark mentioned the possibility of putting a ShopRite near the Stone Museum and travel down the curves of Mt. Mills Road - I guess we want to beat Stop N Shops record of the most accidents. What I am trying to say is putting anything, anywhere is going to meet with objections by people living close to any proposed site. We will never make everyone happy but like I said, if the majority wants it, then so be it!! I hope we could find a spot for a Diner at this location or are Diner's totally banned from coming into Monroe Township?

12. Residents at Encore, well they do have a major problem if the township approves the construction of additional receiving and distribution facilities across the street from them. They know exactly how much traffic will be coming to this near area. They even know the times of day that this traffic will be the heaviest. What do we know? We know absolutely nothing. Yes, there will be more traffic but maybe we are all overestimating what it would be at the new site. Sounds like this new site would be so busy that you would need a 4 lane highway. Look at Englishtown Road! With the new shopping centers (2 of them), they still have the same roads and traffic is just about the same.

13. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the next Zoning Board meeting but I will certainly send a copy of my support for the project to the Zoning Board.

Thanks for reading my ramblings.

Ron

MEN'S CLUB PRESENTS:
GRANDCHILDREN'S DAY - SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.adrive.com/public/dbf6816848d6ff1c6f0b910ce9e839082da6d58d2b6d466d34b27e20d290b197.html
PROBLEMS WITH YOUR THERMOSTAT AND HEAT

A MESSAGE FROM A RESIDENT:

This afternoon I started to feel cold in the house. When I went over to check the thermostat there was nothing in the window: no temperature, no current program, no time, nothing. The only thing displayed was “low battery” in the lower left corner. I replaced the batteries, two AAs, and all the items in the window appeared. However, the heat still did not go on. I tried to turn the fan on, but nothing. After four or five minutes the heat did come on. I guess the thermostat had to reset itself. The thermostat in my previous house had a rechargeable battery in it. The thermostat was connected to a low voltage line that kept the battery charged. Apparently this thermostat from Toll just stops working when the batteries die.

EMAILER'S REPLY:
I believe in a very early email I did address this problem. Yes, the batteries had to be changed and you must also reset the system by shutting down the on/off switch to the furnance. It should stay off for about 5 minutes and then you can turn it back on and it should work. I will include your note (annonymously) so that others can benefit.

WOMENS CLUB
CANASTA TOURNAMENT DATE CHANGE:NEW DATE IS MONDAY APRIL 7, 2008HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

THAT'S IT FOR NOW
RON