Brick neighbors push back against Breton Woods development plan

When Sandy and Thomas Hoffman moved to Brick, the community was filled with forests and farms. Now they fear the last patch of nature in their neighborhood will be turned into a new 59-home development called "The Havens at Metedeconk."

On Monday, the couple joined nearly 200 residents at Civic Plaza to hear the Brick Planning Board consider developer D.R. Horton's proposal to build four- and five-bedroom single family homes across a forested parcel of Breton Woods. The 30-acre property is owned by the Church of the Visitation on Mantoloking Road, which has agreed to sell the property for an undisclosed amount.

"When we built this house (near the Breton Woods property) 30 years ago, it was all trees" in the neighborhood, said Sandy Hoffman. The area "is beautiful. It's one of the nicest places in Brick."

But the Hoffmans and many of their neighbors worry the Mount Laurel-based home builder's plan could destroy much of the natural beauty of the area.

As the Planning Board listened to three hours of expert testimony on Monday about architecture plans and stormwater drainage, spectators filled nearly every seat and lined the walls of the room. Dozens of audience members watched as they wore green shirts that read "Save Breton Woods."

Victoria Gianakos of East End Avenue said during a public question section of the meeting that the proposed homes would be "significantly out of place" in the community of small bungalows and Cape Cod-style homes.

Experts for D.R. Horton defended the decision to build big homes, the largest of which would be 3,200 square feet, saying that market conditions favored their decision.

In Brick, the median home sale price in February was $335,000, up from $259,900 the previous year, according to Realtor.com, which tracks home price and sale trends.

Across Ocean County, home prices rose 20.5% in February compared to last year, according to Redfin, the real estate brokerage company. At the same time, fewer homes sold in February compared to the prior year, according to the website.

Despite strong demand for homes across the region and robust sale prices, D.R. Horton is likely to have a long fight ahead. Township professionals questioned the developer's storm drainage plans, which include creating a homeowners association to maintain the drainage basins. The builder also plans to install high-maintenance porous roads between homes, which require special care to plow and keep functioning long term. That care and the additional maintenance costs would become the responsibility of the township.

Without coming to any decision, the board announced it would hold another hearing on D.R. Horton's plan at 7 p.m. on April 18. The meeting will be held at Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road.

Ryan Gittler-Muñiz, whose Mayfair Court home backs up to the forested parcel, said he was encouraged by the number of people who attended the Monday meeting. Last year Gittler-Muñiz launched an online petition to raise awareness about the sale and proposal for Breton Woods.

"It's amazing to see the turnout," he said. "It's amazing to see the pressure that the people of Brick continue to put on the developer, and the town, and the church to… resolve the situation and preserve the woods."

Previously: Church-owned woods could turn into homes, and Brick neighbors don't like it

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Brick neighbors want to save Breton Woods as builder presents proposal