Payton Guion

Asbury Park Press

JACKSON - Lakewood residents came out in resounding opposition to a plan to build more than 1,800 homes on top of a golf course in the booming town.

Busloads of people packed into Jackson Memorial High School for a hearing on the project by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

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The overwhelming message Tuesday: Eagle Ridge Golf Club is no place for a massive residential development.

"It's an unjust and unacceptable threat to our environment and our way of life," said Arthur Lippins, resident of a community adjacent to the golf course. Lippins was one of more than 40 people to speak in opposition of the proposal.

Plans call for a development of 1,872 homes. It would replace Eagle Ridge Golf Club, a 27-hole course off Cross Street and Faraday Avenue in Lakewood.

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Nearby residents, some of whom paid extra for fairway views, have come out in force against the proposal, which was unveiled in February by GDMS Holdings LLC. Plans also include five community centers and more than 200,000 square feet of retail space.

Since the proposed community would be built on wetlands and other protected areas, the developer had to submit Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) plans with the state Department of Environmental Protection.

In March, residents sent more than 1,100 letters to the DEP asking for a public hearing. Such hearings are not typically held for CAFRA applications unless there is significant public opposition.

That opposition was evident at the hearing on Tuesday. Several hundred people packed the auditorium, some holding signs. One of them: "Don't turn Cross Street into a lost street."

"It's going to be a nightmare," said Ken Aurin, another resident of the community adjacent to Eagle Ridge.

Last month, the DEP indicated it wouldn't approve the plan in its current form.

A letter from DEP to the developer said, "the project is not designed in accordance" with state environmental regulations. GDSM Holdings failed to show that it could provide adequate water and sewer service to the development, and submitted a traffic study that didn't account for all proposed units.

The letter was signed by Colleen Keller, DEP's assistant director of land use.

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No one representing the developer spoke. Residents weren't able to get any additional information on either the project or how the developer plans to address DEP's concerns.

Earlier on Tuesday, State Sen. Robert Singer, R-Ocean, said he thought the project was way too big, adding "1,800 is a ridiculous number. 1,800 units is a number you pull out of the sky."

But a few of the people who spoke said that large residential projects come with the territory of being the state's fastest-growing city.

"Where is everyone going to live?" asked Lakewood resident David Klein. "This is a growth-oriented town. We need housing."

The DEP now has 15 days to decide if it will allow housing on Eagle Ridge or if the plan needs any changes, before the department considers approving the project. DEP Spokesman Bob Considine said the department will consider issues raised at the hearing.

Once the DEP decides the application is complete, it has 60 days to make a ruling on the needed environmental permits. If the department approves the permits, Lakewood's government would still have to approve the project before any work can begin.

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Payton Guion: pguion@app.com; 732-643-4245