Zoners turn down Monmouth’s MAC center Application for 4,000-seat arena fails to get needed votes BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer Monmouth University’s proposed MAC center WEST LONG BRANCH –– Monmouth University’s application for a sports arena came up one vote shy of approval by the West Long Branch Zoning Board last week. At the Dec. 14 meeting, board Chairman Rocco W. Christopher made a motion to grant several use and bulk variances required for preliminary and final site plan approval for the multipurpose activity center, or MAC. The application failed to garner the required five affirmative votes for approval due to the use variances although the motion to approve was seconded by board Secretary Irven Miller, and received yes from board members Samuel Guidetti and James Meola. Board members Ellen Anfuso, John Aria and Douglas Bostwick voted against the university’s plan. “Is your sole objection on the number of activities [to be held at the MAC center]?” Christopher asked Bostwick after the application was rejected. Douglas replied, “My concern is with the traffic.” Wendell Smith, the applicant’s attorney, said after the meeting that he would talk to his clients and decide whether the university would appeal the decision. Plans called for the proposed 152,400-square-foot building to be connected to the 2,200-seat Boylan Gymnasium, the more than 40-year-old venue for basketball games and other sporting events. The 4,842-seat arena would have been constructed in an R-22 zone in the center of the south campus and about 647 feet away from Larchwood Avenue. Hearings on the application began in May. Proposed uses for the MAC facility included basketball games and other sporting events, convocations, graduations and other campus functions. Miller, who along with Christopher attended the private college, said he supported the application and felt the center would be valuable to the community. “It is my opinion that the public interest outweighs the public detriment,” Miller said before voting for the application. At the meeting, a list of proposed conditions regarding the application for board approval, including parking and traffic control as well as limitations on the number of events to be held at the MAC, was read by Smith. The conditions included notifying West Long Branch police in the event of the sale of 3,000 or more tickets to the public and permitting no more than 16 capacity events to be held in the MAC during any calendar year. Originally Smith had called for 25 events to be held at the arena per year, but decided on a smaller figure to comply with the board’s recommendations. “We agree to all the conditions,” Smith said. But those conditions fell short for some board members. Anfuso said Police Chief Arthur N. Cosentino had mentioned to her that he would like to see a traffic light at West Palmer and Monmouth Road as well speed bumps on the roadway. But Miller responded, “Rather than a traffic signal, posting an officer at the site would be better.” The university said, upon approval, it would pay for a traffic light or speed bumps, as required by the borough, according to Smith. “Everybody wants to get this done and agree to these conditions,” Anfuso said. “What happens down the road when the university faces hardships and they don’t want to comply with the conditions?” she asked. Smith said the applicant would have to come back before the Zoning Board for additional approvals before breaking contracts for its permitted uses. Even after the applicant agreed to all the proposed conditions, Bostwick said he was still having a hard time with the capacity of events at the MAC and the traffic they would generate in the community. “It is still a burden to our community,” Douglas said. Miller disagreed and said the university has worked with the Zoning Board in limiting the number of events at the arena to 16 per year.