BRICK – During a recent Township Council meeting, a resident said that a construction project is causing trash and dangerous conditions in nearby neighborhoods.
Gianna Galeotafiore, of the Laurelton Heights section of town, said that the construction of a car wash on Route 88 is causing the land to be cleared. This is creating unsightly conditions nearby, in terms of garbage and the appearance.
Furthermore, Route 88 was a dangerous road already, with much more traffic on it than it was built to handle, she said. Adding another high-traffic business just makes the problem worse. There are more businesses being allowed but there are no improvements being made to the road.
After the meeting, fences were built around the property which might contain the trash, but they also block the view of drivers coming to that busy intersection, she said.
She asked Mayor Lisa Crate and the Township Council to fight these kinds of development and to ensure safety and privacy in the area.
During the meeting, officials didn’t respond to her complaint. When The Brick Times reached out to Business Administrator Joanne Bergin via email after the meeting, she explained that the governing body doesn’t comment on land use projects.
The Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board govern what can be built on land in town. Engineers and other professionals hired by the town vet the development applications and advise the boards, who then vote on them. The state law on land use “is very clear that interference or influence from municipal officials is not appropriate. In fact, it can, and has been in Brick, a basis for having decisions overturned. Board meetings are publicly advertised and posted so that residents can be aware of, and attend these meetings to hear the details on an application, ask questions, and make comments.”
In 2024, the Board of Adjustment approved an automated 2,800 square-foot car wash with 12 outdoor vacuuming stations at the corner of Route 88 and Kenneth Place.
It was the fourth hearing for the application, proposed by JAC Operating, LLC, which met with opposition from about a dozen residents from Laurelton Heights, a neighborhood that will be fronted by the car wash.
Possible Open Space
Galeotafiore also asked about a small, triangular parcel of land where Taylor Boulevard meets Barb Lane. Currently, it’s an unused area with some trees on it. She suggested building a pocket park there.
During the meeting, Mayor Crate double checked with her about the location.
In the email from Bergin, she said that the Brick Open Space Savers will be taking a look at that parcel to see if its acquisition fits into their priorities.
