Press story on MAAC
This will appear Saturday. Don't know if it will go in all editions. Here it is:
By CAROL GORGA WILLIAMS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
WEST LONG BRANCH … It appears the borough's Board of Adjustment could vote favorably on the $34 million plan by Monmouth University to construct a multi-purpose athletics and activities center on campus, provided neighborhood concerns about traffic and parking can be ironed out.
The board put off a formal vote late Thursday but of the seven members who could hear the plan, six said they would approve it, if their concerns are addressed by the Dec. 14 meeting.
The seventh, member Ellen Anfuso, said she wasn't sure yet how she felt.
The others expected to cast votes are Board Chairman Rocco W. Christopher, board Secretary Irven Miller, and members Douglas Bostwick, James Meola, John M. Aria and Samuel Guidetti.
Bostwick and Meola expressed reservations about voting for the proposal until they saw the conditions of the approval.
At particular issue for Bostwick was limiting the number of ""capacity events'' that could be annually held at the center.
Capacity events are those that would draw 4,000 or more attendees.
University Attorney Wendell A. Smith initially proposed 25, but quickly suggested 20. When he mentioned 15, Bostwick said he wanted the opportunity to examine the center's schedule and then determine a realistic number.
""Trying to meet the happy medium is where my heart is,'' Douglas said. ""...I just think 20 is a lot, in my personal opinion.''
""I want to see a MAAC Center,'' added Aria. ""I want to see it was as little impact on the surrounding community as possible.''
While Smith, university attorney Marc D. Policastro and Board Attorney Thomas Klein work on a number to bring to the board at its December meeting, officials also will consider solutions to other neighborhood concerns, such as prohibiting parking on neighborhood streets during events and potentially providing valet parking, to control any overflow.
While Monmouth University officials maintain the 3,000 parking spaces available at the university are sufficient for the center's need, Smith also said the university would continue to negotiate.
The university intends to use off-duty police officers to direct traffic during events but officials said Thursday the borough may not have enough officers to meet the demand, and Christopher said the university could be forced to look to neighboring departments to find officers willing to earn a little overtime.
""We keep talking about capacities,'' Christopher said. ""Capacities are going to be set by ticket sales. You're not going to have tons of people. It's already been downsized. It was supposed to be much bigger...This is inherently beneficial. It is a school. The law says it is inherently beneficial.''
The audience Thursday night seemed divided among opponents and supporters.
""I can't see how it is possible a 5,000-seat MAAC is not going to have a terrible impact on our city,'' said Irene C. Tsakiris of Hollywood Avenue. ""We can't get to our homes now and it is just going to be worse and worse. A smaller MAAC is something that needs to be considered.''
Other opponents said it was time for the school to consider a satellite campus where a MAAC would be welcomed.
John Brockreide of Hollywood Avenue, and his father, also John Brockreide, spoke of the university's role in the community, which they said was a positive one.
""I think it has been an asset to the community and to us,'' said the younger Brockreide.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
By CAROL GORGA WILLIAMS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
WEST LONG BRANCH … It appears the borough's Board of Adjustment could vote favorably on the $34 million plan by Monmouth University to construct a multi-purpose athletics and activities center on campus, provided neighborhood concerns about traffic and parking can be ironed out.
The board put off a formal vote late Thursday but of the seven members who could hear the plan, six said they would approve it, if their concerns are addressed by the Dec. 14 meeting.
The seventh, member Ellen Anfuso, said she wasn't sure yet how she felt.
The others expected to cast votes are Board Chairman Rocco W. Christopher, board Secretary Irven Miller, and members Douglas Bostwick, James Meola, John M. Aria and Samuel Guidetti.
Bostwick and Meola expressed reservations about voting for the proposal until they saw the conditions of the approval.
At particular issue for Bostwick was limiting the number of ""capacity events'' that could be annually held at the center.
Capacity events are those that would draw 4,000 or more attendees.
University Attorney Wendell A. Smith initially proposed 25, but quickly suggested 20. When he mentioned 15, Bostwick said he wanted the opportunity to examine the center's schedule and then determine a realistic number.
""Trying to meet the happy medium is where my heart is,'' Douglas said. ""...I just think 20 is a lot, in my personal opinion.''
""I want to see a MAAC Center,'' added Aria. ""I want to see it was as little impact on the surrounding community as possible.''
While Smith, university attorney Marc D. Policastro and Board Attorney Thomas Klein work on a number to bring to the board at its December meeting, officials also will consider solutions to other neighborhood concerns, such as prohibiting parking on neighborhood streets during events and potentially providing valet parking, to control any overflow.
While Monmouth University officials maintain the 3,000 parking spaces available at the university are sufficient for the center's need, Smith also said the university would continue to negotiate.
The university intends to use off-duty police officers to direct traffic during events but officials said Thursday the borough may not have enough officers to meet the demand, and Christopher said the university could be forced to look to neighboring departments to find officers willing to earn a little overtime.
""We keep talking about capacities,'' Christopher said. ""Capacities are going to be set by ticket sales. You're not going to have tons of people. It's already been downsized. It was supposed to be much bigger...This is inherently beneficial. It is a school. The law says it is inherently beneficial.''
The audience Thursday night seemed divided among opponents and supporters.
""I can't see how it is possible a 5,000-seat MAAC is not going to have a terrible impact on our city,'' said Irene C. Tsakiris of Hollywood Avenue. ""We can't get to our homes now and it is just going to be worse and worse. A smaller MAAC is something that needs to be considered.''
Other opponents said it was time for the school to consider a satellite campus where a MAAC would be welcomed.
John Brockreide of Hollywood Avenue, and his father, also John Brockreide, spoke of the university's role in the community, which they said was a positive one.
""I think it has been an asset to the community and to us,'' said the younger Brockreide.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 4:44 PM
3 Comments:
Wow, sounds like some folks are entitled to pacifiers at this point.
What a bunch of @?*&%$!!
We can build a brand new arena --- JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT FILLING IT TOO OFTEN?
And that idiot woman in the story who thinks maybe we should think about building it smaller than planned? Why are we spending 34 mil -- for a building the same size as what we now have?
Maybe these WLB dopes should try living near South Bend, Indiana or Ann Arbour, Michigan to see what real traffic looks like!
Oh, that would be different -- at those places they would have to accept the fact that they're living in a college town!
They want to restrict us to about 15 dates of over 4000 fans (that's about 4% of the year for you non-math majors). What a dumb idea. Maybe we should just turn the lights off when MU isn't using the place; forget about possible HS tourneys that could be played there & might attract more top athletes to the program; forget about community clinics and other events that might fill the place!
We have to put a meter on the turnstile and shut the doors before the 16th sellout!
Here's a better idea -- hire me as the ticket taker -- I think I can make sure MU doesn't exceed its allotted 'capacity' dates (just might forget to count a few heads here & there)!!!
I guess, if you're MU, you just grit your teeth and do what you have to do at this point to get the thing built.
Anyway...how many events will draw more than 4,000? That's a bridge to cross when you get there.
The main thing now is just to get the ball (er shovel) rolling.
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