Ranch development and roadway raise questions
Your turn
Arleen Mavorah
Guest Column

The “private street” being developed by Park Avenue Estates off Elberon Avenue is required to access my garage and side entrance. For almost 50 years the house that stands on this lot has gained access in this way.

Back in November, when all other attempts to address the existing problem failed, I did in fact reach out to Mayor Adam Schneider for help. He did tell me that the roadway adjacent to my home was not under the city’s jurisdiction, but was more concerned with the fact that I was involved in legal action that has held up the developer’s project.

When I asked who would be responsible for snow removal and maintenance his response: “that’s a good question.” It is a question he has yet to answer.

Jack Silverstein claims that litigation against Park Avenue Estates prevents the developer from completing work.

It’s obvious it didn’t stop them from ripping out a driveway to my home and leaving not only a mess of a roadway but an almost twenty foot long, 4-foot-wide and 3-inch-deep ditch leading directly to our garage, making it impossible to access.

If we didn’t take matters into our own hands, we would still, after six months, be locked out of our garage. Is this what the developer means when he says it’s doing the best it can?

Let me take a moment to pose some other questions regarding the Ranch Development:

Q: Why was Mayor Adam Schneider so in favor of having ALL traffic from the development exit onto Park Avenue, which already has such a heavy volume of pedestrian/vehicular traffic from the two schools, two synagogues, soccer field and active playground it houses? Did I mention the poor visibility of traffic coming over the railroad trestle? Is this what he considers to be in the best interest of the community?

Q: And more importantly, why was Mayor Schneider so adamantly opposed to having a street leading out to Lake Takannassee, which would have decreased traffic on Park and Elberon avenues and have been a much safer plan?

Q: Why, as a taxpayer of Long Branch, have I been denied proper use of a street (which the city has approved) to access my home for six months?

Q: Why doesn’t the city assume responsibility for this “private street” when this pre-existing home not only requires, but has a legal right to its use? With the city claiming no jurisdiction, who enforces traffic codes?

Q: In light of the fact that this “private street’s” only use is a connecting street (no lots are planned on it) how did the Planning Board, in good conscience, approve a street that already has and will continue to be a safety issue for the community?

Q: Why does Mayor Schneider seem to be more of an advocate for the developers than for his constituents?

The Park Avenue Estates Development was approved by the Long Branch Planning Board in a vote of 5-4.

I was present at that meeting. Chairman Howard Marlin voted against the proposal.

I remember him saying the project seemed to have more questions than answers. Guess I’m not the only one looking for answers.

Arleen Mavorah is a resident of Elberon