Tinton Falls decries Navy housing plan
By Keith Brown • COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU • January 21, 2009 TINTON FALLS — The Borough Council on Tuesday expressed support for organizations fighting a controversial Navy plan to open up to civilian military housing on Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck. The council unanimously approved a resolution that sides with the boards of the township school district and Monmouth Regional High School, along with the Colts Neck-based group Neighbors Opposed to Privatization at Earle. The groups are taking steps to block the the Navy's housing plan. Attached to the resolution is a letter to Navy brass detailing the borough's objection to the Earle proposal and the reasons behind the governing body's support for the school districts and the NOPE group. That letter was unavailable to the public last night. Council President Gary Baldwin said it would be on the borough's Web site at www.tintonfalls.com today. "I think it very well articulates the points we need to make to the Navy," said Councilman Andrew Mayer, referring to the letter. "I think its a strong statement." NOPE, which last weekend held two informational meetings in Tinton Falls and Colts Neck to garner support for its cause, is spearheading an effort to block the Navy from opening to civilians 300 homes on Earle that are currently used for military families. The Navy entered into a 52-year contract with Laurelwood Housing LLC in 1988 to build the housing complex. The Navy pays the developer $3.5 million in annual rental payments.