Schools

Trinity Hall To Pursue Appeal to Build Campus on Chapel Hill Road

The Planning Board's denial will be explained in a resolution expected July 2.

Why exactly did the Middletown Planning Board deny Trinity Hall's application to build a new campus for its all-girls high school on Chapel Hill Road at its June 11 meeting? 

The official reasons will be outlined in the board's resolution, which is scheduled to be presented for adoption at the July 2 board meeting. 

Planning Board Attorney James H. Gorman said he is preparing a proposed resolution from transcripts of the hearings, conducted over the past six months, and will present the draft to individual board members for edits, corrections and comments prior to the meeting. 

"The board will speak through its resolution," said Gorman.    

The board voted 6-3 to deny the application in a marathon meeting that concluded at 1 a.m. on Thursday. No statements by the board members were made at the time except for Board member Gail Carroll, who said, before seconding a motion to deny the application first made by member Michael Ostrander, that she did not believe the proposed use complied with the ordinance. 

The proposed campus on wooded Chapel Hill Road would have included 3 buildings, athletic fields and parking lots on sections of a 64-acre parcel. Opponents testified that the school would cause permanent traffic, safety and environmental problems. "I think it was not a proper use of the property, period. Simple as that," said attorney Ron Gasiorowski, who represented one of the opponents.

Upon adoption and publication of the board resolution, Trinity Hall would have 45 days to file an appeal in Monmouth County Superior Court. 

According to a statement posted on its website, Trinity Hall's Board of Trustees intends to pursue their legal right to appeal. 

"The Middletown Planning Board had directed the application be submitted without variance from the ordinance and that Trinity Hall accept reasonable additional conditions or amendments, which the application did follow," the statement said. 

Trustee Donna Winchell, one of the 12 members who comprise the Board, called the denial of Trinity's application "arbitrary and contrary to Township ordinance." 

The school's attorney, John Giunco of Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, was out of the office on business Monday and could not be reached for comment.


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