Shore Point Distributing gains OK for buildings
BY ELANA ARON
Correspondent

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - After more than a year of delays, the Planning Board has approved an application that will allow Shore Point Distributing Co., a beer distributor, to construct a new distribution facility on Three Brooks Road. The facility will include three one-story buildings, with 40 percent of the space devoted to offices and the remaining 60 percent for warehouse space.

The 243,000-square-foot center, which will be constructed next to Shore Point's existing warehouse, was originally supposed to be 247,000 square feet, but complaints from area residents saw the size reduced.

The application was the subject of a Planning Board hearing on Oct. 19 at the Freehold Township Senior Center, Jackson Mills Road.

It was stated that in addition to reducing the size of the project, Shore Point also purchased additional property that has moved the facility further away from an adjoining residential zone.

Residents of the neighborhood off Three Brooks Road have in the past objected to the Shore Point expansion plans.

Representatives of Shore Point said they expect the first new building to be completed in about 18 months.

Attorney John Giunco, representing Shore Point, said his client has owned the property for 30 years.

"Residents bought those houses at a discount," Giunco said. "They knew it was next to a warehouse. The township has tried to work with us in a very reasonable way, but at the end of the day, my client had to go out and buy another property."

Paragon Freehold Land LLC has an application pending to construct five buildings on its property at Halls Mill and Willowbrook roads. With the Shore Point facility approved, there are plans to connect the Paragon and Shore Point facilities by way of Meridian Drive, which will be extended and used as an access road in order to divert truck traffic away from Three Brooks Road.

Mayor Anthony J. Ammiano said the main goal of the extended Meridian Drive will be to keep traffic off of Three Brooks Road.

"It's a win-win situation for everyone," he said.