Re: the MAAC. Press Editorial
It's always a delicate dance when a university that abuts established residential neighborhoods wants to expand. Trying to balance the legitimate concerns of the residents against a university's desire to improve its facilities, programs and campus experience is seldom easy.
The rejection by the West Long Branch zoning board last week of Monmouth University's application for a $34 million multipurpose athletic center is a case in point. While the facility was to be built on campus, neighbors raised questions about the impact it would have on traffic, noise levels and parking on residential streets. After nearly a year of deliberations, the zoning board rejected the application. Although the vote was 4-3 in favor of the facility, five affirmative votes were needed because a use variance was required.
A new athletic center to replace the 2,500-seat Boylan Gym has been in the talking stages for more than a decade. Soon after Paul G. Gaffney II became university president in 2003, he said he wanted to break ground on a new 3,500-seat arena by fall 2004. The plan rejected by the zoning board last week called for a 4,824-seat facility — one the university Web site at one time said could accommodate 6,000 people.
The shifting numbers and the increased scale of the project helped feed the skepticism of neighbors already concerned about Monmouth University's increasingly ambitious plans. Under the previous administration of President Rebecca Stafford, the university doubled its student enrollment to about 6,000, not only putting pressure on the university's campus facilities, but forcing the university to house about 850 students off-site.
Arena critics have suggested building the facility off campus, something university officials will now have to seriously consider. If they are comfortable housing a substantial share of their students off campus, why not locate the new arena — one that would host just 12 to 14 basketball games a year —off campus? It would allow the university to accommodate a variety of events there throughout the year without fear of ruffling the feathers of neighbors.
More broadly, the zoning board's rejection of a new on-campus arena must prompt a reassessment of the university's long-range growth strategy. Is it time to create a major branch campus in a neighboring town or perhaps at Fort Monmouth? Can the university carry out its long-term objectives given the geographic and political constraints it faces in West Long Branch?
One thing's for certain: Any attempts to extend the campus' current footprint will be met with stiff opposition.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
The rejection by the West Long Branch zoning board last week of Monmouth University's application for a $34 million multipurpose athletic center is a case in point. While the facility was to be built on campus, neighbors raised questions about the impact it would have on traffic, noise levels and parking on residential streets. After nearly a year of deliberations, the zoning board rejected the application. Although the vote was 4-3 in favor of the facility, five affirmative votes were needed because a use variance was required.
A new athletic center to replace the 2,500-seat Boylan Gym has been in the talking stages for more than a decade. Soon after Paul G. Gaffney II became university president in 2003, he said he wanted to break ground on a new 3,500-seat arena by fall 2004. The plan rejected by the zoning board last week called for a 4,824-seat facility — one the university Web site at one time said could accommodate 6,000 people.
The shifting numbers and the increased scale of the project helped feed the skepticism of neighbors already concerned about Monmouth University's increasingly ambitious plans. Under the previous administration of President Rebecca Stafford, the university doubled its student enrollment to about 6,000, not only putting pressure on the university's campus facilities, but forcing the university to house about 850 students off-site.
Arena critics have suggested building the facility off campus, something university officials will now have to seriously consider. If they are comfortable housing a substantial share of their students off campus, why not locate the new arena — one that would host just 12 to 14 basketball games a year —off campus? It would allow the university to accommodate a variety of events there throughout the year without fear of ruffling the feathers of neighbors.
More broadly, the zoning board's rejection of a new on-campus arena must prompt a reassessment of the university's long-range growth strategy. Is it time to create a major branch campus in a neighboring town or perhaps at Fort Monmouth? Can the university carry out its long-term objectives given the geographic and political constraints it faces in West Long Branch?
One thing's for certain: Any attempts to extend the campus' current footprint will be met with stiff opposition.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 10:48 AM
3 Comments:
Note to all..this was the lead editorial published Dec. 24 by the Press editors desk. I did not write it. Comments?
Tony,
I've sent 3 replies to the Press on this (since they continue running anti-MU stories I've revised it twice)& haven't made the paper yet!
Is the Press in bed with WLB on this? All I see are stories against the MAAC.
I don't think the Press - no matter the editorial - really cares whether the MAAC is built or not Nor it is obligated to. As to not answering your reply..that is up to the editorial department which I do not work for. Just make sure you have sent it to the correct place (address, e-mail, etc.) and keep trying.
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