PHOTOS of this evening’s Planning Board meeting currently taking place at town hall. Lawyers from GCU as well as attorneys hired by the 14th Street area residents are presenting their case before the planning board votes on the approximate 150 acre expansion project, which would effect the residents in 14th Street, Case Road and Forest Avenue areas.
The university is seeking approvals to add 1,200 parking spots, new dormitories, a soccer field, and entrances to the college, which area residents say will negatively effect the area.
The board is expected to vote on the proposed plans soon.
UPDATE 10:30 p.m. This evening’s meeting has concluded, and will be continued on December 21st.
GCU will receive the approvals for this project. We, as a community, must embrace good change and expansion. The residents in West Long Branch and Long Branch fought Monmouth University and they lost. Please keep in mind how much the university pays in taxes which of course helps out the ENTIRE community. When you purchased your house near GCU, you knew that they had hundreds of acres which could one day be developed.
Did they get it? Or not?
Regarding GCU paying taxes does a University pay taxes? And aren’t they part of the Church which is tax exempt?
I don’t know what taxes the university pays to the twp. Their land is tax exempt and the students don’t live or shop in lakewood. If the students would support the local economy I would agree but they don’t add any tax dollars like monmouth does
How come my comment wasnt posted
Taxes?
BMG and GCC are two different animals.
I’ve been told many of the BMG student have families and live in town and study for many years at this institution . It is only normal that they make purchases locally for any of their needs at store that cater to that need,
Most students at GCC don’t reside on campus and come from out of town.Other than their classes the commuter student requires nothing but a tank of gas for their transportation needs. Any food they that they require can be purchased at the campus dinning hall . Those that do live on campus and have needs beyond the dinning hall can be found on Saturday at Shop Rite, (I see students there when I do my shopping). or other area stores
After four years of school at GCC most of the student leave Lakewood and move on with their life. as happens with 99% of college student through out America
Many BMG students study for many years and stay and start family in town because everything that they need and want is here so its only natural that they support the local business and pay taxes.
As a long time resident who is non frum I can understand how someone who is not familiar with the local religious population and its customs would very easily feel uncomfortable walking into a Frum Business and feeling out of place. Its only normal, Just as I walk into Bagel Nosh and gets the looks from other patrons , a Frum person walks into a non Frum store and gets stared at. Its only human nature when you don’t understand or are not tolerant of someone who is different from yourself.
I’ve never taken it personal because when you get down basics were all the same. We all have the same joys and suffer pain in our life’s regardless of who we are.
Back to the Taxes, It only make sense that the BMG “family” supports the local economy more than the GCC “student”. But this case being heard has nothing to do with Taxes
Its all about being good neighbors to each other and trying to come to an understanding and meet each others needs
How can you say the students don’t live or shop in town, several hundred students live on the campus.
allowed to live off campus rent local homes also. Non freshmen and sophomores.
What is the local economy? Only frum stores??? I do go to GCU and I do support the local economy. I shop at Shoprite, Target in Howell 2 minutes up the road, I eat at a lot of pizza places and Chinese food. I go to the Blue Claws games and I also have a doctor in Lakewood. Does this not count because I do not benefit some???? Oh I also read the Scoop and due to the adds run on the scoop I went to Twin City Jewelers is this not the local economy???? This is how a lot of my friends do things also so you need to rethink your position because we do support the local Economy!
I agree with old goyim billy that everyone needs to be good neighbors and have no problem with gcu expanding as much as they want. The point nobody is making is that everyone is saying we the residents should be good neighbors. However gcu should also be a good neighbor and modify their plans a little to make the neighbors happy. So far they haven’t bent a drop on their proposals. The small things the neighbors are asking for are very reasonable and would not be felt by the college. However the plans as they are will severely affect the neighborhood quality of life and safety. So I agree be good neighbors and allow as much expansion as they want. But the college should also be good neighbors and do a little to keep the neighborhoods safe and peaceful. Contrary to popular belief nobody is asking them not to expand as much as they want. All they are asking is to make a few modifications to the plans that would be life changing to the neighborhoods and not really affect the college. Hopefully they will understand and everyone will be happy good neighbors.
I have to disagree with all those saying we don’t support the local economy. I personally shop at nicks fruit on 2nd and feldmans on clifton and toys for thought on 3rd st I have used lipas to fix my car and I have went to chemed for medical needs. I fill up with gas at exxon and once bought a sandwich there. Same for delta gas station and sandwiches. The mexican takeout on clifton is supposed to be great however I haven’t tried it. And once went to madison repair for a check engine light.(The rabbi in charge said It didn’t need to be fixed because I didn’t need inspection yet) wawa has the best coffee and the free wifi at starbucks is the best. Home depot is the place I go for my gardening supplies. my kids even go to a local private school. I have to admit I am from the minority of students that have this lifestyle, but there are a lot of other frum ladies like me that are with me in gcu.
if you attended the meeting last night you would have enjoyed the way a committee works together for all people of Lakewood. I would urge the chair of the BOE along with residents who attend meetings to come and see how a professional board works together
I am a member of the yeshiva community. I have lived here for over 20 years. Do you people mean to say that my rights as a property owner are subject to some litmus test based on how much I contribute to the local stores, taxes, etc? What unabashed arrogance. I am entitled to do anything on my property that is in compliance with local ordinances.
So is GCU.
I understand NIMBY as well as the next guy, but c’mon, we all have had to adjust to the new density realities in town. This is simple ugliness and some of the ideas expressed here are simply beneath people of the am hanivchar.
Why is it always about money. Higher learning is a good thing in and of itself. Who cares if an expansion will bring more money.
I’m not part of the Jewish community so I’m curious if there are a lot of others like #11 who are frum and attend this university. It is a Catholic University but it is open to all. Having a local university is very convenient for non-traditional students- commuters and adults looking to advance themselves.
If the only issue people have with the expansion is where they will put new entrances I hope they will come to a compromise. The expansion can benefit all the residents of Lakewood as well as surrounding towns.