Keyport Smart Growth Steering Committee was established by the governing body during the first quarter of 2004. The Steering Committee serves as an information and communication resource to complete fact-finding activities, assigned by the Keyport planning team to the four topical committees (Business, Transportation, Waterfront and Residential). The Steering Committee works to further the Smart Growth planning process with the planning team, Preiss, Phillips, Shapiro Associates, NJ Office of Smart Growth Borough Officials, and the Keyport Unified Planning Board on the Keyport waterfront/downtown redevelopment planning process. The Steering Committee is comprised of thirty (30) community volunteers and stakeholders. The Smart Growth Steering Committee volunteers include topical committee chairs, Borough officials, residents and business leaders.

Smart Growth Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
June 2, 2004

Steamboat Dock Museum, American Legion Drive
The first meeting of the Smart Growth Steering Committee was called to order 7:08 p.m. by Kenneth Bowers, Preiss, Phillips, Shapiro, Associates, and Meg Walker, Project for Public Spaces - Keyport Planning Team.

Attendance: Steering Committee: Cathy Dipierro, Flo Crawford, Councilman John Doyle, Jeffrey Fink, Lynne Kosobucki, Michael Lane, Joe Liggio, Mike Palmisano, Michael and Ann Marie Reedy, George Sappah, Rowland Seckinger, Mark Sessa, Kathy Shaw, JoEllen Trilling, Councilman Joseph Wedick, James White, Administrator David Palamara.

Others in attendance: Tom Henderson, Roger Goetdel, Teresa Young, Jennifer Henning, Marilyn Abramowitz, Paula Muller, Jack Jeandron

A review of the homework assignments undertaken by the four topical committees to date was presented by Councilman John Doyle and Joseph Wedick. Through public response to the January and February, 2004 Smart Growth Meetings, 71 volunteers signed on to participate in the public process of visioning. Business, Waterfront, Transportation and Residential topical committees have been created and volunteers serve on these topical committees to complete homework assignments related to the study area, created by the planning team. This meeting is the first presentation of the work completed thus far by the four topical committees.

Smart Growth Topical Committee reports were presented:

Business
Jeffrey Fink presented a report summary to the Steering Committee in the absence of Business Chairperson, Terry Burns, who is traveling in Italy. The Business Topical Committee homework assignment was to create a survey instrument and interview business owners on Front St, using a sample survey provide by the planning team. Included in the survey instrument format are the assets and liabilities of a downtown location, traffic and parking issues from a business ownerÃs perspective; along with how can the waterfront bolster downtown businesses. The committee reviewed an inventory of Keyport businesses provided by KBA to see what kind of businesses appear to be concentrated in Keyport, along with identification of any missing businesses that would do well in Keyport.

The business inventory contains 330 businesses town-wide with the largest representation of business types to include 47 automotive, 22 home improvement, 18 manufacturing, 17 financial services, 15 medical, 13 fast food and 13 business services. Categories are diverse and represent 75 category types. They are listed on www.keyportonline.com in a searchable proprietary database. The survey distribution process was outlined by 86 out of 166 in the study area being surveyed and completing the questionnaire. The results include 68% of those targeted completed surveys in the study area. A further analysis is being completed of the written narrative comments submitted by survey respondents. Business trends of those surveyed provided a majority response that their business is stable and overall in Keyport that business is improving.

Top five things that other shopping areas have that Keyport does not include: more restaurants, nicer appearance, more and better parking, more group advertising, greater variety of goods and services, more anchor stores like super markets & department stores.

The Three most important features that Keyport needs (in order of most frequent response): waterfront redevelopment, visual improvements keeping attractive, more restaurants, a ferry, greater variety of goods and services, more parking, year round, stores to stay open more days/hours/holiday, more parking particularly in summer, more retail stores, public rest rooms.
(See report for additional information)

Waterfront
Michael Palmisano, Chairperson, presented a report summary to the Steering Committee. The Waterfront Topical Committee homework assignment was to create a map showing all existing and potential waterfront access points. Take a field trip to other waterfront communities and photograph things you like and things to avoid. Inventory existing water-depended uses and identify unmet needs. Are there any conflicts between these uses? Are there harbor management issues? Inventory existing recreation facilities and identify unmet needs.

Palmisano reported that the Waterfront Committee held two formal meetings, and created hand drawn maps that can be scanned for an electronic copy. Committee members went out to parks: Cedar, Veterans, Benjamin Terry, Beach, American Legion Drive, and the marinas. They created drawings of play equipment, roads, bulk head areas, and generally what exists and surrounds the properties. Andy Willner provided photos from trips to various water font areas. They created a series of slides from in town and other locations. The Committee was unaware of technical details for the T-dock, Green Acres Diversion, Potential ferry and limit of parking on Green Acres property. Observations and write-ups were undertaken, along with interviews at the park and waterfront locations sites. The group performed an exercise looking at creating values for the areas. They looked at what important about our town in order to develop principles based on values. As an example, they identified a chain link fence by the bulk head; the lack of signs on the baseball field as weaknesses and strengths. The fence is a temporary measure until grass grows in the area. After determining that the fence is a temporary condition, the fence information and situation will be integrated into their process. The lack of signs at the field allow to area to be passive recreation area.

Transportation
JoEllen Trilling, Chairperson, presented a summary of the topical committee work of the Transportation Committee. Homework assignments included map creation showing traffic issues in and around the study area, identification of locations where cars and pedestrians conflict. In addition, the committee was asked to research history and current operations of ferry service in the Bayshore region including when the service started, number of riders and linkage with other transit modes. The committee also looked at what streets are most appropriate for biking. Included on the base map are the identification of parking areas around the waterfront and the regulations and usage patterns. Identification of opportunities for increasing parking supply was also undertaken.

The location of natural resources and the mix of citizens using the waterfront were evaluated. The historical roots of the town in commercial fishing and as a recreation center on the water were included in the evaluation process. The committee members observed parking, traffic patterns and mass transit options. The available parking locations were identified and placed on the base map. The number of cars, their locations in private and off street parking areas was included. American Legion Drive is busy on the weekends and empty during the week. The impact of a ferry service operation on the waterfront, along with future parking needs was evaluated. The municipal lot behind Gales appears to the best location for a multi tiered garage structure. Marking of spaces for more efficient use of space on American Legion Drive behind the commercial buildings where the rear areas are currently unused.

The community of Edgartown demonstrated use of an alley connecting the waterfront. Improvements could be made that are not expensive to improve the access. Belford Ferry Landing service provider is cutting back on trips. The committee explored a ferry taxi feeder service between Keyport and Sandy Hook and a shuttle to stores and the reduction of summer travel traffic on Highway 36. The committee discussed options for creating a transportation link for water travel to Sandy Hook and the beach from Exit 117 and Keyport. The link would provide enhanced opportunities for visitors to utilize shops and restaurants. Several key areas were identified: improve signage for parking (State DOT to fund that); additional parking using Mini Park area to create dock/park to connect to the Harbor; Post Office fill space above to help taxes go down; ¼seedÓ Bed & Breakfast development; create great walking tours through town; lighted areas in evening to encourage walking; link Henry Hudson Trail bike path through town; explore linkages to existing mass transit (train, bus, bike).

Dangerous intersections were identified for pedestrians and cars: Beers & W Front St at American Legion Drive (line up roads); cross walks, cones pedestrian first signage; Front and Broad; Main and Front; Beers and Maple; 4th and Lapatatong; Chingarora and Maple. Bike racks and linkages to the Henry Hudson Trail are key transportation issues.

Residential Committee
Michael Lane, Chairperson of the Residential Topical Committee presented the report. The homework assignments included creation of a photo book of residential types found in Keyport with positives and negatives of each type. Common architectural motifs or historical characteristics that are unique to Keyport that should be kept in mind for future development were to be identified. Current zoning for the waterfront and downtown were to be analyzed to outline what types of residential development are currently allowed in which zoning districts. Current housing census data is to be reviewed for comments.

The committee started with the observation that Keyport is one super town! The committee took a field trip to the Unified Planning Board to follow the process of the Board under the Chairmanship of Mark Sessa. Zoning and land use was discussed by the committee as to how we might change or maintain the character of Keyport. All elements were critiqued against the following characteristics:

• Maintain small town quality
• Recreational Boating
• Enhance the scenic waterfront
• Insure survival of single family homes, beach parks and waterfront marina
• Change downtown with residential buffer and mixed-use to enhance Keyport
• Change Aeromarine to age-restricted PURD (Planned Unit Residential Redevelopment) to enhance Keyport.

Charts were developed displaying "Use" types in relationship to zoning district regulations. New "Use" proposals were defined for AeroMarine and the General Commercial District. The AeroMarine uses included multi-family if age-restricted. For the Downtown a Residential Buffer zone and Mixed-Use area were defined. Development standards for Mixed-Use and Multi-family were outlined and proposed. The committees proposed that the GMC district emphasize Marine related activities and businesses. See www.keyportonline.com for the charts and maps used in this report.

Further recommendations were presented including:

• No use of eminent domain in waterfront residential area (including east of Walnut St)
• Build new road into Aeromarine on old rail road right of way
• Screen Walnut area with evergreen on the PURD (Planned Unit Residential Development) borders
• Restore public access to beach at end of Walnut and Atlantic Streets
• Oppose any development of wetlands along Matawan Creek and top of Browns Point
• Require developers to pay for traffic and road enhancements

A presentation of the June 5 Placemaking Workshop was provided by Meg Walker to familiarize the topical committee chairs, Steering Committee, Council members and Borough Officials with the process that would take place with the general public invited to attend by press, school message boards, legal notice and general networking amount the 71 Smart Growth volunteers.

Future meetings of the Steering Committee will be scheduled (location identified) and announced on www.keyportonline.com. Monday, July 19 was identified as the next meeting date at 7 pm.

Submitted by K. R. Shaw 6/10/2004
Reviewed and approved by Topical Committee Chairs June 21, 2004