Republicans argue overdevelopment; Dems blame highways

Republicans argue overdevelopment; Dems blame highways

Barbara Van Wagner

Two newcomers challenge

pair of GOP incumbents for seats on Eatontown Borough Council

By Sherry conohan

Staff Writer

Roy Eisen

EATONTOWN — Unbridled development has driven Republicans Barbara Van Wagner and Roy Eisen to seek election to the Borough Council.

The Democratic incumbents seeking re-election, Councilman Theodore F. Lewis Jr. and Councilwoman Joyce A. Englehart, see traffic as the larger problem and tout the council’s stabilization of the municipal tax rate.

The council is currently divided 3-3 between Republicans and Democrats, with Democratic Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo breaking any tie votes.

If either of the Democrats loses, majority control would fall to the GOP.

Van Wagner, senior planner for the Monmouth County Planning Board, said she wants to implement a more responsible, sensible approach to growth.

"The present council’s weak stance on aggressive development has weakened Eatontown’s future," she said. "I guess our traditional values are not a priority with this administration. What we’re trying to protect and promote is that neighborhoods and families are first."

Eisen said the borough is being overdeveloped, which is aggravating traffic problems.

"Although it is increasing our tax ratable base, we are left with the traffic," he said.

"It detracts from the residential nature," he added. "People are very concerned about people cutting through their neighborhoods, sometimes at high speeds."

Lewis countered that criticism, pointing out that most of the development in the borough took place in the 1960s and 1970s.

He noted that Monmouth Mall was developed in the ’60s and Industrial Way in the ’70s.

Even the shopping center now being built behind Burger King was approved 10 years ago, he added.

Lewis said Eatontown’s big problem comes from traffic generated by having five major highways passing through town — the Garden State Parkway, Route 18, Route 35, Route 36 and Route 71.

"Whenever you have that many major roadways crisscrossing one another, if you didn’t have major development, you would have traffic," he said.

Englehart said that they were trying to work around the traffic but that it’s difficult.

"Unfortunately, when you have this many highways that come together, it’s hard to keep it down," she said. "We try to keep the quality of life as high as we can."

Lewis and Englehart emphasized that they want to continue to keep taxes down.

The two complained that taxes had risen sharply — about 35 or 36 percent — until three years ago.

They said they were pleased that the rate remained steady since then, and even went down slightly, by 2 cents, last year.

"Our biggest accomplishment is getting the local portion of the taxes under control," Lewis said. "I think that was a major accomplishment."

But Van Wagner and Eisen said the surplus the borough has kept in the budget is too high and the local tax rate should drop further.

"Basically, we have an uglier town," Eisen said about what he views as excessive overdevelopment, "and our tax rates are still high."

But Lewis said the Republicans should keep in mind that the budget, with the surplus they are complaining about, was adopted by the council unanimously with all three Republicans on the governing body supporting it.

The Democrats have stressed their roots in town. Both are third-generation residents. Lewis has served on the council for 24 years, and Englehart served for three.

"Both Ted and I are lifelong residents, and we want to continue to do what’s right for the town and keep politics out of it," Englehart said.

"I think we treat the public with respect and try to work with any problems," Lewis said. "You can see what we’ve done, and we would like to continue."

Van Wagner has lived in the borough for four and a half years, while Eisen has been a resident for 16 years.

Van Wagner said that regardless of how long the Democrats have lived in town, the present administration is not taking into consideration residents’ concerns.

"I don’t think either one of them is representing Eatontown’s best interests," she said. "They constantly vote in favor of developers."

"Just because someone lives in town all their life doesn’t mean they know what’s best for the town," Eisen added. "It just means they have lived here a long time.

"People who are qualified and have backgrounds can serve, and we are qualified," he added.

In addition, Eisen criticized the current council members for the way they handled a proposed tree-trimming ordinance that recently died after an outpouring of public protest and it was found too flawed to amend.

"I’m not happy with the way things are being done in town," he said. "I would like to have a different approach."

Lewis oversees fire and water matters, while Englehart oversees parks, recreation and parking.

Van Wagner serves on the borough Planning Board and the Shade Tree Commission.

Eisen is a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Lewis, an architect by education, had an architectural practice for 20 years before becoming a construction official for various municipalities.

He is currently the construction official for the city of Long Branch and for the borough of Monmouth Beach.

A resident of Wyckoff Road, he is divorced with two children.

Englehart, who lives on Nudd Drive, attended Monmouth University, West Long Branch, but did not complete studies for a bachelor’s degree.

She works for the law firm of Amdur, Boyle, Maggs and McGann, located on Industrial Way.

Englehart is married and has four children.

Van Wagner graduated from St. John’s University, New York, and has a master’s degree from the Columbia University School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, New York.

She worked in Asbury Park in planning, zoning and redevelopment for seven years before taking up her present job at the county planning board office two months ago.

A resident of Grant Avenue, Van Wagner is married and has three children.

Eisen, who lives on Byrnes Lane, is manager of Fax on Demand at Xpedite Systems, the world’s largest enhanced fax service, in Tinton Falls.

He is a graduate of Drexel University, Philadelphia, and is married with two children.