Apartment Complex with Focus on Disabled Tenants Approved by Planners

An apartment complex aimed at giving those with disabilities a community where they can live mostly independent lives won the approval of Toms River planners, though some neighbors expressed concerns that an affordable housing requirement may draw further problems to the area. 

Proposed for the northeast corner of Hickory Street and Massachusetts Avenue, the nonprofit Project Freedom development is planned to include 72 apartment units on 10 acres of land. Because of state regulations, 18 units are reserved for disabled individuals — the remainder could go to able-bodied tenants, though persons with disabilities would be given preference.

"We foresee problems with this," said Ken Strom, who serves on the homeowners association for an adjacent apartment complex.

Strom told planners at the Wednesday night hearing that he and his neighbors are concerned the complex may start off as a community for the disabled but draw troubled residents. The nearby Hope's Crossing neighborhood, which offers affordable housing, has issues with crime, he said.

"They just keep packing that area. We are against this," Strom said.

But Tim Doherty, executive director for Project Freedom, said that it is the intention of the organization to build a community for the disabled to live on their own. Tenants would be screened before leases are signed.

"We are independent living," Doherty said. "There must be a certain level of competency among those who apply for housing. We do have some degree of selection of individuals."

Once selected, tenants would undergo monthly inspections and the complex is planned to be monitored with video surveillance. Tenants will be treated "just like at any apartment building," Doherty said, meaning they can live alone, sign a lease, have their own keys and potentially be evicted

The plan calls for seven units per acre — below the township ordinance allotment of 12 units per acre — and a common building. As for parking spaces, 161 are planned, more than the 143 required by ordinance, and more than usual are handicap accessible. Units are planned to feature one, two and three bedrooms.

Project Freedom is a nonprofit organization that was founded 29 years ago to find housing solutions for the disabled. The organization already operates five other communities throughout New Jersey, providing for "independent living" with some support services, Doherty said. No medical facilities would be constructed on the site. 

"There just wasn't anything like it" before Project Freedom came along, said Faye Wilson, who serves as a caregiver for her 33-year-old grandson. She told the board about what she feels is a need for the development in Toms River.

"Our kids were faced with going into group homes," she said.

A community like the one planned by Project Freedom would allow her grandson the opportunity to live alone with some support while also interacting with some able-bodied neighbors. 

"I'd like to back off so he can have the sense of taking care of himself," she said.

Chris Ammann, a board member at the nearby Woods at Massachusetts neighborhood, presented a petition signed by about 40 residents opposed to the development. Ammann brought a recent photo to the board's attention that shows a sign in front of the land stating it was dedicated in 2003 as open space that should not be developed. 

Township planner Jay Lynch said that, based on title work he has done, it appears the land never received such a designated, despite the sign making the declaration. The matter will be further investigated, he said.

All Planning Board members present voted in favor of the application. Some said that they would have liked more than 18 units reserved for disabled tenants, but that is not possible under state regulations. 

A traffic engineer said that the impact of the site — combined with planned 350 and 56 apartment unit complexes nearby — would still allow local roads to "function safely and efficiently."