Latest Asbury Park Press MAAC story/will run in paper Friday

""Many people do feel the university has some benefit for the community, but there
is a limit to the sort of (university) expansion we will tolerate in this
town.''Zahava Sher of Larchwood Avenue

""I live a block away from it, and I see what is going on.''Zoning Board member Douglas
Bostwick, who opposes the athletic center plan.


MONMOUTH U. PLAN DEFEATED

Zoners say no to athletic center

By CAROL GORGA WILLIAMS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

WEST LONG BRANCH … The Zoning Board of Adjustment Thursday defeated a proposal for a
multipurpose athletic center for Monmouth University, despite an agreement by the school to
limit the number of capacity events there, a condition designed to minimize the impact on
neighbors.
Despite nearly a year of meetings, the board put off a vote at its November session after
several members said they still had reservations about some aspects of the plan.
On Thursday, those doubts lingered, even after Board Chairman Rocco W. Christopher offered
a motion to approve the $34 million plan, which was seconded by Board Secretary Irven Miller.
Board members Samuel Guidetti and James Meola voted with the two to approve. Board members
Ellen Anfuso, Douglas Bostwick and John M. Aria opposed the motion. Because the measure was
for a use variance, among other approvals, and required five affirmative votes to pass, it
failed.
Moments later, Bostwick offered a motion to deny the application. Anfuso and Aria voted for
that motion. ""I guess we're done,'' Christopher said when it was clear the outcome would not
change.
Christopher attempted to question Bostwick about continued objections, and Bostwick
acknowledged he was not satisfied with the testimony of the school's traffic expert who
indicated local roadways would not be overburdened by capacity events at the proposed athletic
and activities center.
Capacity events are defined as those attended by more than 4,000 people.
""I live a block away from it, and I see what is going on,'' Bostwick said. University
attorney Wendell A. Smith initially proposed 25, before switching to 20 annual capacity
events. When he mentioned 15 at the November meeting, Bostwick said he wanted the opportunity
to examine the center's schedule and then determine a realistic number.
On Thursday, the school proposed 16 university-sponsored capacity events and said
non-university events would have to be approved by the borough in advance. Those would include
functions such as high school graduations and athletic tournaments.
After the meeting, Patricia L. Swannack, university vice president for administrative
services, deferred comments to Smith, who said he would consult with the university before
deciding whether to appeal the decision.
For one resident, the board's rejection of Monmouth's application was good news.
""Very happy,'' said Zahava Sher of Larchwood Avenue, who had been a consistent critic of
the plan. ""I just hope it stands,'' she said of the decision.
""I think it is important for people to understand that many people do feel the university
has some benefit for the community, but there is a limit to the sort of (university) expansion
we will tolerate in this town,'' Sher said.
While Smith, university attorney Marc D. Policastro and board Attorney Thomas Klein had
worked on a capacity number to bring to the board at its December meeting, officials also were
to 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.
On Thursday, the attorneys presented a resolution that would allow the West Long Branch
police to determine traffic solutions for any event in which more than 3,000 tickets were sold
but Bostwick said Police Chief Arthur N. Cosentino was unaware of any traffic plan.
Under the terms of the resolution, Cosentino's department would determine which streets
would have prohibited parking, and the university was to have paid the overtime for increased
police or security guards.
Board members said Cosentino had sought traffic-calming devices for Larchwood Avenue up to
Cedar Avenue, and Palmer Avenue to Monmouth Road and Whale Pond Road. He also wanted a traffic
light at West Palmer and Monmouth Road.
The university consented to pay for traffic-calming devices, provided the borough approved,
but did not agree to fund the installation of a traffic light, and Miller suggested a better
alternative would have been for a police officer to be stationed at that intersection during
capacity events.
Opponents have argued the school should consider a smaller center or a satellite campus
where an athletic and activities center would be welcomed.
But for University President Paul G. Gaffney II, the application was part of his plan to
create ""destinations'' on campus. This 152,400-square-foot facility, to be built with a
combination of public and private funds, was slated for two temporary parking lots in the
center of campus, northeast of Boylan Gymnasium.
It was to have been 647 feet from the nearest homes, which are on Larchwood Avenue. The
center is needed for the school to remain competitive, particularly in the National Collegiate
Athletic Association Division I athletic program, officials have said. There are 19 Division 1
teams at Monmouth.
The vote against the MAAC comes just a week after the West Long Branch Borough Council said
it would not pursue an appeal of a Superior Court decision upholding a zoning board approval
that permits Monmouth University to construct a 196-bed dormitory, parking lot and tennis
courts in a residential zone.

e-mail tonygsports@aol.com