Proposed Upper Freehold warehouse destroys NJ history — and our environment | Opinion

Jerry Carino’s June 12 article, " 'Kick in the stomach.' Warehouses on site of Revolutionary War fight? Allentown's aghast,” horrified me.

As an Upper Freehold resident who supports historic preservation and environmental protection, I was stunned to read about the proposed AAESUF Warehouse development of 54.62 acres in Upper Freehold lays on historic ground. Revolutionary War Col. Daniel Morgan and his marksmen were sent by General George Washington to confront the British, and this land had a role to play according to the article. In Upper Freehold, we created an Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Scenic Byway, designated by New Jersey, and supported by citizens in Allentown and Upper Freehold. Now, I am afraid if this AAESUF development proceeds, the name of our scenic byway might become the Upper Freehold Warehouse Not Scenic Byway.

Carino’s article pushed me to research more about the project and public policy solutions before I commented. Subsequently, I have learned about a new New Jersey law that can potentially throw a wrench into the development plan, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Justice Law.

The new NJ DEP Environmental Justice Law has designated Upper Freehold as one of Monmouth County’s "Overburdened Communities." This designation allows scrutiny over new development projects or the expansion of existing projects that create certain stressors on the township, in this case reduced air quality due to increased traffic. In a May 18, 2023 memo to the Monmouth County Planning Board’s Development Review Committee, a county official challenged the AAESUF Warehouse proposal’s traffic plan.

More: 'Kick in the stomach.' Warehouses on site of Revolutionary War fight? Allentown's aghast

I shared this May 18, 2023 memo with the NJ DEP Environmental Justice staff because there could be up to 1000 + new cars and trucks that travel to this AAESUF warehouse over the course of two shifts. As Vincent Cardone, Monmouth County Principal Engineer, noted that there was “a discrepancy between the calculated trip generation vs. the number of employees per shift, and total parking spaces.”

The numbers tell the story: proposed are 572 parking spaces for cars and 108 loading docks for trucks, with six truck drive-in ramps. Count on 790 daily weekday truck trips per week. Also listed are two shifts for employees with 452 people working per shift (1,356 daily). Whatever numbers you choose, there will be major changes in air quality on Routes 539, 526, 195, Main Street in Allentown, and throughout the “Overburdened Community” of Upper Freehold.

The ramps along Route 195 going into Robbinsville and Upper Freehold, going east and west, will be even more congested, and thousands of us will be subjected to sitting in more traffic polluting the air, and reducing air quality. And, how do you think the lack of breathable air will affect our property values?

On March 25, 2000, I was quoted on the front page of the Asbury Park Press' Coastal Monmouth Edition in an article titled “A Growing Quandry,” by Kirk Moore. The story highlighted my shock that a development expert claimed that "sprawl works." I responded, “This is the first time I heard that ‘sprawl works’… It doesn’t work for me."

My position has not changed in 23 years. This AEESUF project is a public policy and planning nightmare.

Who can credibly propose this type of development that will substantially increase cars and trucks on already congested New Jersey highways, including new potential new traffic from Route 130, the New Jersey Turnpike, and Route 295, does not make sense?

Presently, it takes me over an hour to drive to Rutgers one way to use its archives; will I now have to plan to leave at the crack of dawn or schedule two-hour, one-way commutes?

The detailed explanation of the NJ Environmental Justice Law and its designation of “Overburdened Community” program can be found at https://dep.nj.gov/ej/law/.

In my letter last week to Upper Freehold Planning Board Staff and the mayor, Allentown mayorn and the Monmouth County Planning Development Review Committee, I urged them to contact the NJ DEP Environmental Justice Office, and make sure Upper Freehold can be protected from compromising and dangerous air quality from the AAESUF development. And like a good neighbor, we cannot dump our air pollution on our good neighbors in Allentown.

I urge all citizens to be pro-active by contacting the NJ Environmental Justice Office and also let Upper Freehold officials know that we will not accept the poisoning of our lungs and land due to development pressure and greed.

Sue Kozel is former vice chair of the Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Scenic Byway Committee.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Upper Freehold NJ warehouse proposal shuns history, environment