Gaitway Farm in Manalapan could be replaced by warehouses, skating rink under this plan
MANALAPAN - Plans for a 555,596-square-foot warehouse and two-story 55,003-square-foot skating rink will soon be presented to the township's planning board, are proposed to be built in the area east of Gaitway Farm’s horse racing training track.
A second 1,100,000-square-foot warehouse could be built on Gaitway Farm in a second phase.
In late 2021, the township adopted a redevelopment plan that would allow developers to build warehouses and indoor recreation centers along a section of Route 33 and Woodward Road. The redevelopment area included Gaitway Farm and Manalapan Manor, an assisted-living facility for people with disabilities. The facility closed in 2020 after years of health violations. Four residents had also died while walking along or crossing Route 33.
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The current plans, which are scheduled to be presented before the planning board at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 at Manalapan’s Township Hall, differ from plans that went before the board in 2021, moving some of the features to different spots.
In current phase I plans, the proposed skating rink would replace Manalapan Manor and the woods behind the defunct buildings. The proposed phase I warehouse, with 83 docks and four drive-in doors, would be located behind the proposed skating rink.
Site plans indicate that a second road would branch off the road leading into the proposed phase I development. The second road points toward the fields on Gaitway Farm that are closest to Route 33. An arrow indicates that the second road is intended “to connect to future jughandle and traffic signal to be constructed on Block 74, Lot 12. Construction of this jughandle and signal shall be a prerequisite to the construction of Phase I improvements shown.”
Block 74, Lot 12 is Gaitway Farm.
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According to the traffic study, phase II could include a 1,100,000-square-foot warehouse.
The traffic report used figures from the state Department of Transportation and the Institute of Transportation Engineers to determine the anticipated volume of traffic coming in and out of the proposed facility.
The phase I warehouse would generate 93 or 98 morning peak-hour trips and 104 or 108 evening peak-hour trips. The skating rink would generate 12 to 36 morning peak-hour trips and 97 evening peak-hour trip. And the 1,100,000-square-foot warehouse would generate 151 or 187 morning peak-hour trips and 188 or 198 evening peak-hour trips.
The phase I warehouse could also generate 12 morning peak-hour truck trips and 17 evening peak-hour truck trips. The phase II warehouse could generate 22 morning peak-hour trips and 33 evening peak-hour trips.
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The developer, Active Acquisitions LLC, is currently proposing another warehouse and distribution center in Upper Freehold. The 453,720-square-foot warehouse center in Upper Freehold is proposed to be located less than 100 feet from the backyards of a residential neighborhood in Allentown.
Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Gaitway Farm in Manalapan gives way to warehouses, rink under plan
