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Bus Company's Site Plan Facing Opposition

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 February 2006, 15:00 CST

By Naomi Mueller, Asbury Park Press, N.J.

Feb. 14--POINT PLEASANT -- Nearly two years after receiving approval from the borough's Board of Adjustment to operate at least part of its student transportation business from Lovelandtown, Farrell Transportation is applying for site plan approval.

And a group of Lovelandtown residents are just as opposed to the plan now as they were then. This time, they have hired Toms River attorney Edward F. Liston to help them make their case.

Just as they did in appealing the zoning board's decision to allow the bus garage to operate in their area, the residents have banded together to oppose the company's application.

In addition to needing site plan approval, Farrell has applied for several variances, including one that would allow an 8-foot chain-link fence around certain areas of the property where only a 6-foot fence is allowed, and another to allow a radio tower and antenna to remain on the property in excess of the borough's height restriction.

Residents have said they are concerned that by allowing a bus depot to operate on Howe Street, a one-way street with a park and no sidewalks, their quality of life would be hurt.

Residents also have said they believe the company's plan goes against the master plan's goals of protecting the predominantly single-family character of the borough and protecting residential neighborhoods from the encroachment of commercial businesses.

The zoning board in March 2004 approved a variance allowing Farrell to store school buses at the site. That decision was appealed by area residents four months later, who said the board's decision was arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable. A Superior Court judge, however, disagreed, ruling that the board acted within its rights.

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Source: Asbury Park Press

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