Local communities lead
Monmouth in growth
Manalapan,
Marlboro at top of
list in county report

BY LARRY RAMER

Staff Writer

Manalapan and Marl-boro are leading Mon-mouth County in population gains over the past four years, according to estimates compiled by the Monmouth County Planning Board.

Manalapan and Marlboro rank first and second, respectively, among the 53 municipalities in the county in terms of population growth from 2000 until January 2004, according to the figures.

The county estimates that Manalapan has added 3,849 new residents since 2000, bringing the township’s overall population to an estimated 37,272 in January 2004. That number reflects a population increase of 11.5 percent since 2000.

According to Monmouth County At-A-Glance 2003, a publication of the county planning board, Manalapan is projected to have 41,643 residents by 2020. In 1990, Manalapan had 26,716 residents. According to the publication, 91.8 percent of residents are white, 2 percent of residents are black, 6.2 percent of residents are Asian or other, and 3.5 percent of residents are persons of Hispanic origin.

Marlboro’s population soared by 3,720 residents over the period from 2000-2004, representing an increase of 10.2 percent. The surge caused the number of residents in the township to pass the 40,000 mark in January 2004, the county estimates.

According to Monmouth County At-A-Glance 2003, Marlboro is projected to have 46,389 residents by 2020. In 1990, Marlboro had 27,974 residents. According to the publication, 83.8 percent of residents are white, 2.1 percent of residents are black, 14.2 percent of residents are Asian or other, and 2.9 percent of residents are persons of Hispanic origin.

Despite those numbers, the growth in both towns has slowed over the past two years.

In Manalapan, the number of residents increased by an estimated 1,372 people in 2000, 1,500 in 2001, 700 in 2002 and 300 in 2003.

Manalapan Committeeman Drew Shapiro said he believes the numbers showing a slowdown in growth over the past two years are due to policies pursued by the Township Committee.

"I attribute the decline to the fact that we downzoned (required larger residential building lots) and curbed excessive building that had taken place for years," Shapiro said.

He noted that lots in many resi­dential zones had been raised to 3 and 4 acres. The township’s effort to buy land for preservation as open space has also contributed to the slowing of the population growth, he said.

Two developments that can be expected to add to Manalapan’s population in the coming years re­ceived Planning Board approval in June 2003 — the Meadows and Four Seasons developments, both slated to be built on Route 33 be­tween Millhurst and Woodward roads. Construction has not started on either project. There will be a total of 1,338 units, with about 800 of those units to be age-restricted. Initial plans for the projects date back almost 30 years and origi­nally proposed about 3,400 units.

Marlboro’s population swelled by an estimated 1,380 people in 2000, 917 in 2001, 830 in 2002 and 600 in 2003. The town’s estimated addition of about 600 people last year is still the highest increase in the county, according to the plan­ning board’s estimates.

The statistics contain both posi­tive and negative news for the town, said Marlboro Mayor Robert Kleinberg.

"The numbers are encouraging in one respect since the growth [in Marlboro] is going downhill, but it’s discouraging that we still have the highest [population] growth in the county," Kleinberg said. "We must stop growth and I will commit to do anything within the confines of the law to slow down develop­ment."

Freehold Township experienced the third highest population growth in the county over the past four years, according to the planning board’s estimates, as the township’s population grew 8.1 percent from 31,537 to an estimated 34,077 resi­dents in January 2004 (an increase of 2,540).

Like Manalapan and Marlboro, Freehold Township has seen its population growth ebb in recent years, as the increase has shrunk from an estimated 1,265 people in 2001, to 500 in 2002 to 300 new resi­dents last year.

According to Monmouth County At-A-Glance 2003, Freehold Township is projected to have 37,828 residents by 2020. In 1990, Freehold Township had 24,710 residents. According to the publica­tion, 87.1 percent of residents are white, 5.1 percent of residents are black, 7.8 percent of residents are Asian or other, and 5.2 percent of residents are persons of Hispanic origin.

By contrast, Howell’s population growth has accelerated recently. According to the county’s estimates, the number of residents in the township grew by 450 people in 2003, compared with an increase of about 280 people in 2002 and 250 people in 2001. Over the four-year period examined in the report, Howell has added 1,790 people. Howell’s population is estimated to have been 50,693 in January.

According to Monmouth County At-A-Glance 2003, Howell is pro­jected to have 57,088 residents by 2020. In 1990, Howell had 38,987 residents. According to the publica­tion, 90 percent of residents are white, 3.6 percent of residents are black, 6.5 percent of residents are Asian or other, and 5.3 percent of residents are persons of Hispanic origin.

In terms of percentage growth over the four-year period, the rural western Monmouth County munic­ipality of Upper Freehold Township had the highest growth rate in the county, as the town­ship’s population soared by about 42 percent, or 1,796 residents. A new adult community helped to account for much of that growth. The township had an estimated population of 6,078 in January.

Manalapan had the second highest growth rate as a percent­age, followed by Millstone Township and Marlboro.

The county’s population is now about 640,000 residents, according to the information provided by the planning board.