Cramer to Present Car Dealership Suitability Findings Next Week

The Manalapan Township Planning Board for 2012 welcomes three new members, Glen Mendez, Charles Niebling and Richard Aaronson. The newly appointed members sat on the dais of the first Planning Board meeting of the year last Thursday at .

Other than the introduction of the new members, no big changes were made. Jack McNaboe was unanimously voted in as the Chairman of the Planning Board; McNaboe served as Chairman of the Board last year.

Richard Cohen was unanimously chosen Vice Chairman, taking Herbert Lazar's position from last year; Lazar no longer serves on the Board.

Eleanor Ruggiero was chosen Board Clerk and Secretary, Ron Cucchiaro was chosen Board Attorney, Greg Valesi of CME Associates was chosen to be the Board Engineer, and Richard Cramer was chosen to be Board Planner. All served in the same positions last year.

At the next scheduled Planning Board meeting on Jan. 26, Cramer said he would announce the recommendation to the Board regarding allowing automobile sales agencies within Manalapan Township. Cramer is particularly focusing on Rt. 33 and Rt. 9. He also is reviewing all OP-Zones (Office Professional Zone) located on Rt. 9 and looking at all other additional uses appropriate for these zones in order to promote the economic use of the buildings within them.

This more involved review of zones within Manalapan comes at the during the public hearing regarding the allowance of automobile dealerships in the OP-3 Zone.

Cramer's document will be on file with Eleanor Ruggiero soon before his presentation on Jan. 26 and available for review afterwards. Cramer will present his findings, offer recommendations, and then the Board will deliberate and discuss how they wish to proceed. Any action the Board wishes to take in response to Cramer's findings will be moved to their following meeting on Feb. 9. If the Board wishes to accept Cramer's conclusions (not officially vote on the matter), the public hearing will be scheduled for Feb. 9, as well.

Legally, the issue was moved to the reorganization meeting in terms of scheduling purposes when the calendar is officially approved for the 2012 year. Therefore, any additional comment on the issue would be in violation of the law.