We, the undersigned residents of Holmdel, NJ and neighboring towns, oppose high-density residential development at 23 Main Street, formerly the site of Vonage, located on Holmdel Road and Route 520.

Plans presented by CHA/Propco LLC depict 300 units of tightly packed senior housing, including the renovation of the existing structure, 50 townhomes and two new three-story buildings. Residents have rightly voiced concerns regarding the demand for and feasibility of additional senior housing, the erosion of Holmdel’s small-town appeal, the potential contamination of our drinking water, the impacts of a potential PILOT program on our schools, increased traffic congestion and added strain on emergency services and healthcare facilities.

Holmdel must send a message to developers that heavily investing in properties not currently zoned for their desired purpose is unwise. Our elected officials and governing boards have a duty to honor the commitment made decades ago to protect Holmdel's Category One streams (and thus our drinking water) by only permitting appropriate, low-density development in southern Holmdel. The Category One designation provides critical protection against water quality degradation by preserving fragile ecological resources and discouraging development that could endanger or destroy our drinking water supply. The proposed project is not consistent with Holmdel's Master Plan, New Jersey State Planning Area guidelines or the recommendations of the Ad-Hoc Redevelopment and Economic Development Committee and would have dangerous long-term ramifications in terms of precedent.

We urge the Holmdel Township Committee and Holmdel’s Zoning and Planning boards to refuse to rezone 23 Main Street for high-density housing.

Thank you for supporting Holmdel’s long standing commitment to thoughtful, sustainable land use.