How Master Plan Report could affect Matheny

• On Wednesday, the Peapack-Gladstone Land Use Board will hear discussions about whether Matheny Medical and Educational Center meets the current provisions of its zoning ordinance or whether that special zoning is no longer needed.
• The zoning for Matheny has become an issue since the school/medical facility applied to expand in 2008. It has been consistently opposed by neighbors on Highland Avenue.
• Given the turnout at previous meetings concerning the school, some of which have been filled with support by local citizens, the debate Wednesday evening could be quite lively.
• Interested citizens are encouraged to attend the Land Use Board’s public hearing at 7:30 p.m. at One School St. in the borough.

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE – When the borough’s Land Use Board meets Wednesday night in its continuing series of public meetings on its Master Plan Report, it will take up what probably is the most controversial issue in the 28-page document: the zoning for Matheny Medical and Educational Center.

This discussion is the latest in a series of disputes that have been raised about the school’s land use and activities since it applied to expand in 2008.

A contingent of Matheny’s neighbors along Highland Avenue has been outspoken in its criticism of the school, saying that cars are parked illegally, that the school/medical center conducts activities not consistent with uses permitted under the original permitted uses among other complaints.

A few years ago, the group tried to stop the annual fundraiser, “Miles for Matheny,” but that attempt became a rallying point for the general populace. A hearing to consider permitting Miles for Matheny to return to the streets of the borough after two years at Natirar, a county park, drew so much support from local citizens that the opposing group retreated from its opposition.

Wednesday’s discussion will center around a proposal in the Master Plan Report to eliminate zoning for residential health care facilities in conjunction with a school. The report states, “The Land Use Board reviewed an application for development submitted by Matheny School & Hospital Inc. during 2008 and determined that the existing complex of activities on the subject property did not comport with the ‘residential health care facilities in conjunction with a school’ land use and heard the application as a ‘use’ application.”

Some of the discussion about that 2008 application centered around services offered by Matheny for which the school never applied for approval, such as a van that could provide dental and other outpatient services off site. Another issue was the way an arts center was used. The Matheny administration held a meeting there for staff and other professionals who serve the needs of severely disabled patients to explore the common needs of the two populations and how they best can be served, and that was construed by the opponents as an inappropriate use. Also, a dance group, which does weekly therapy sessions with Matheny patients, performed for the patients at the arts center, which was questioned by opponents.

The writers of the report, Coppola & Coppola of Princeton Junction, indicate that if Matheny is not in compliance with the existing category of land use and as there are no other organizations that can be considered as candidates for this category, then it should be eliminated.

While Matheny would not offer an official response to this line of reasoning for this article, given the amount of controversy in the past and the turnout at previous public hearings in the borough about Matheny, there will be a heated debate before this issue is put to rest. Citizens who are concerned about Matheny may attend the hearing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, at the municipal building, 1 School St. in the borough.

The borough is required under law to review its master plan every 10 years, and the new plan is due to be completed in February.

Staff Writer Pamela MacKenzie: 908-243-6616; pmackenzie@mycentraljersey.com.