The Toms River Jewish Community Council is voicing opposition to proposed zoning changes that could pave the way for large multi-family housing developments in two areas of the township.
In a statement released Monday, the council warned that the proposed zoning amendments — affecting properties along Massachusetts Avenue and Route 70, as well as Riverwood Drive and Route 9 — could allow more than 1,500 housing units to be constructed if approved.
“These projects would create significant congestion and would markedly harm the character of these areas,” the statement said. “It would undermine the very qualities that attracted so many families to move here from other heavily congested communities.”
The council emphasized that the Jewish community in Toms River does not support high-density residential development anywhere in the township.
The statement also pushed back against a recurring narrative that places responsibility for overdevelopment on the local Jewish population.
“Historically, it has been too convenient for politicians on both sides of the aisle to blame our community for overdevelopment that we neither asked for nor support,” the council wrote, adding that residents want to make clear that they oppose multi-family housing projects throughout the township.
“We call on township leadership to engage broadly with residents and community members before considering approval of these proposals,” the council said. “If that engagement occurs, township officials will hear clearly from residents about how they feel regarding high-density development projects like this.”
The issue is expected to be discussed at a Toms River Planning Board hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m.
Will members of your group be attending 3/10 meeting? How can we reach you to coordinate with Lake ridge board of directors
I thoroughly agree. The roads simply cannot accommodate the heavy traffic. I live off route 70 and what used to take 10 minutes to the GSP now easily takes 20-30 minutes. It’s become unsafe. Our infrastructure was not designed to take the amount of vehicles. We moved here for the rural surroundings and it’s diminishing quickly and certainly affects our quality of life.