While there has been no further activity between the borough of Atlantic Highlands and Their Place, the soon-to-open non-profit organization that assists people of all ages with special needs, it does not appear that anyone on the governing body has any concern about traffic or parking impact on the residential community around 55 South Avenue.
That was made clear at last night’s meeting of the governing body, when resident Mark Fisher noted that in judging from the number of consumers who use or could be using the program and the number of staff members, it does not appear either the former Mother Teresa School property nor the adjacent streets can accommodate the number of cars that could be arriving for the program on a daily basis.
Residents have brought up a number of concerns about the rental of the former K-8 Mother Teresa School, which has been closed for several years, to Their Place, a non-profit organization based in Middlesex County in light of the fact the new use was permitted by the borough’s zoning office … without any referral to the planning board for a change of use.
While Borough Clerk Michelle Clark is the zoning officer who issued the permit making it unnecessary to go before the planning board, all questions concerning it were ferried to borough administrator Caleb Stratton.
It appears Clark accepted the firm’s application for use for educational purposes as similar to the K-8 elementary school it had been for years before its closure. The borough’s legal definition of educational use is:
Public, parochial or private elementary or secondary schools, duly licensed by the State of New Jersey, attendance at which is sufficient compliance with the compulsory education requirements of the state. Summer camps should not be considered as educational uses or accessories to such uses. Duly accredited colleges and universities shall also be considered educational uses.
At last night’s meeting, Stratton said he would answer all questions directed to him in writing, However, he has not yet responded to questions sent to him four weeks ago, explaining he was on vacation for one week during that time.
At Monday’s meeting, Fisher noted in gathering information about Their Place, he learned that in 2015, there were 250 consumers and 175 employees, presumably instructors. That number in 2024, the last year records show for information, there are now 183 employees, meaning the ratio is really close to 1 to 1.
A recent check of the school parking lot, it appeared nearly full to capacity with no fewer than 50 cars, he said, raising the question about where adult consumers and staff members that more than 300 different persons could be will park for the five day a week program.
Without any information on the proposed use, the borough cannot have any idea on the impact of either traffic or parking will have on the neighboring residents or the community at large. Nor does the borough know whether the facility uses bus transportation for its consumers.
Not one of the council members at the meeting responded to the concerns at the meeting, and no one on council made any suggestion as to where the information might be sought.
Local resident Joshua Leinsdorf read the letter which appeared in last Sunday’s bulletin for the parish, and Mayor Lori Hohenleitner said the members of the governing body had received a similar letter.
The letter advised residents the Adult Day Habilitation program will be opening and during the summer it will host a community day event inviting all to meet staff, enjoy food and beverages and partake in activities. There was no date mentioned. for the event in the letter, which was from Nicole Appello, Chief Executive Officer for Their Place, Inc.
Appello is the sister of Debrorah Appello, the business manager for Our Lady of Perpetual Help St Agnes parish.
Stratton said at the meeting, and Hohenleitner confirmed, there were two building permits sought, though neither named who applied for the permits. Neither has been paid for yet, so they have not yet been picked up, Stratton said. The permits are for roof repairs and air conditioning and heating for 55 South Avenue. Totaling close to half a million dollars.
Stratton said he reviewed the building permits after being made aware of them at the last council meeting by a local resident.
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CHAPTER 1 LOOMINGS. Call Me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me. There now is your insular city of the Manhattoes, belted round by wharves as Indian isles by coral reefs—commerce surrounds it with her surf. Right and left, the streets take you waterward. Its extreme down-town is the Battery, where that noble mole is washed by waves, and cooled by breezes, which a few hours previous were out of sight of land. Look at the crowds of water-gazers there. Circumambulate the city of a dreamy Sabbath afternoon. Go from Corlears Hook to Coenties Slip, and from thence, by Whitehall, northward. What do you see?—Posted like silent sentinels all around the town, stand thousands upon thousands of mortal men fixed in ocean reveries. Some leaning against the spiles; some seated upon the pier-heads; some looking over the bulwarks of ships from China; some high aloft in the rigging, as if striving to get a still better seaward peep. But these are all landsmen; of week days pent up in lath and plaster—tied to counters, nailed to benches, clinched to desks. How then is this? Are the green fields gone? What do they here?
