Township to delay planned

Residents of Robertsville Road have been working hard to convince Freehold Township officials to reconsider a plan to widen the road and remove vegetation along the frontage of their properties.

Their diligence and persistence has paid off. Township officials said this week that they have agreed to reconsider the proposal.

Joseph Ferdinando and his wife, Anne Marie, were among the residents who spoke out against the plan. The proposed road-widening project would have cut across the front of their property and taken down 10 trees. They said the trees were on the property when they bought their home 11 years ago.

The part of Robertsville Road where the Ferdinandos live is two lanes with a rural feel and vegetation on both sides of the street. According to the couple, they would have lost about 70 feet of their frontage.

In addition, the couple had complaints about what they called an unsightly sewage pump station on the opposite side of the street. According to Joseph Ferdinando, the township has since landscaped the area around the pump station and is going to replace a chain link fence and barbed wire with a nice wrought iron fence, he said.

"It’s been amazing," Ferdinando added.

The Robertsville Road residents are feeling quite relieved since they received a letter, dated Sept. 23, from municipal officials that addresses some of their concerns.

The letter states that because of significant public input about widening Robertsville Road and the need for a traffic light at the intersection of Robertsville and East Freehold roads, officials have revised their original assessment.

The letter states: "Because of the opening of the Kozloski Road extension to Route 79, we have contacted Monmouth County to gain their support for a traffic light at the intersection (of Robertsville and East Freehold roads) ... Monmouth County agrees with the need for the light and will consider this pro­ject a part of its 2004 operating budget.

"This means that the installation of a traffic light, which also requires state approval, is at least 12 to 14 months away. Since the widening of Robertsville Road is no longer an imminent project, the township will have time to re-review the need for the project and the impact that the project may have on this section of our community."

The letter continues, "Should the (road widening) project move forward, we will review the project in line with our Scenic Roadway Ordinance and see that we are in compliance with it."

The residents were told that once the traffic light is installed at Robertsville and East Freehold roads, the Township Committee will schedule a meeting with all of the property owners impacted by the possible widening of Robertsville Road.