CILU was formed in 1998 to combat the threat of overdevelopment and degradation of our water supply resulting from decisions that were made with little transparency by our municipal government.  It is a non-partisan organization which supports open and informed decision-making with regard to Holmdel’s natural resources and residents’ quality of life. CILU aims to protect our open spaces and water supply and to work toward open government with citizen education and participation.  Within that framework, we have five major guidelines on which we base our positions. 

We believe that all government decisions should be made to:

  • Protect the environment - our air, water, and green spaces

  • Protect the health and safety of Holmdel residents

  • Be fiscally prudent in use of our tax money

  • Preserve our quality of life

  • Support a process to encourage public input in all major decisions affecting our town.

"Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children."
-- Kenyan proverb

 

CILU’s Positions

Holmdel Charter Study Commission Update

The CILU Board recommends that you vote YES on July 26th because the recommendations of the Charter Study Commission support our mission of advocating for a more transparent government. It is through actively engaged citizens and open governance that we are able to preserve our open spaces, protect our natural resources (including our water supply) and guarantee the wonderful quality of life that we all enjoy here in Holmdel.  

In the link below, there is a chart highlighting the salient aspects of the proposed form of government as compared to Holmdel’s current form. The link also outlines the issues that the CILU board considered in deciding to endorse changes. Lastly, the link provides information about how to vote in person or by mail.

Click the link for details.

Holmdel Charter Study Commission

The mission of CILU is to support a good government which can only be accomplished with an informed electorate. For this reason, we would like to express our support for the recently elected Holmdel Charter Study Commission’s mission of studying our form of government.

This Commission was elected by Holmdel voters to examine Holmdel’s current form of government, pursuant to New Jersey’s Faulkner Act (N.J.S.A 40:69A-1).  Any recommendations by the Commission will be subject to approval by Holmdel voters at the upcoming November election.  

The Charter Commission’s work can be divided into three phases: study the current form of government, explore alternative forms, and then make recommendations to the Township Committee, who will decide how to present the information to voters.

Currently, the commission is in the first phase having interviewed former mayors and elected officials in the county.  The first public hearing was held on February 3.  All meetings are recorded and can be watched at https://www.holmdelchartercomm.org/videos . 

The Commission will soon be moving into its second phase- gathering more information by bringing in professionals to explain and explore alternative forms of local government available under the Faulkner Act.

The members of the bipartisan Commission (which includes three Republicans, one Democrat, and one Independent) have a strong track record of serving the Holmdel Township through their voluntary efforts.  We believe they are undertaking their mission with integrity and balance with no ulterior motives but to understand how our government works and whether there is a more efficient form to be presented to voters.   

CILU believes that voters should form their own opinions based on what they observe at the meetings and encourage everyone to follow the proceedings of the Charter Study Commission on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/Holmdel-Charter-Study-Commission-100816525682722/ or its website https://www.holmdelchartercomm.org/

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) Regulator Station

CILU strongly opposes a NJNG regulator station on Holmdel Road for the following reasons:

  • NJNG has not adequately shown substantial need or benefit to the residents of Holmdel.

  • There are potential risks to our air and water from waste emissions.

  • There are safety risks associated with accidents from the adjacent roadway and the nearby airplane runway. There is also the potential for vandalism or terrorist activities that may damage this station.

  • The presence of this regulator station will be expected to cause a decrease in home property values in the area.

  • This property is not zoned for this industrial use and multiple variances are needed for zoning relief.

  • If approved, this will potentially set a precedent for more industrial uses on other lands in southern Holmdel.

To read a summary of the Proposed NJNG Regulator Station, click here.

Recreation

  • While we emphasize our support for all sports due to the health, social, and emotional benefits, we also recognize that the issue of recreation in Holmdel is multi-faceted:

  • We believe that the results set forth in the 2018 town-wide Recreation Needs Assessment which prioritized walking trails and biking trails, should be followed with regard to recreation decision-making.

  • We support preserving and upgrading existing sports fields for Holmdel athletes with an emphasis on proper maintenance of our sports infrastructure. 

  • We recommend a transparent process that includes all community stakeholders in determining the need for new sports facilities while taking into account the facilities already available in the area (including outside of Holmdel). The number of sports facilities in town should be proportional to the number of Holmdel athletes.

  • We support natural grass fields as the primary type of playing fields. However, in areas where artificial turf is necessary, we support plant-based, non-toxic materials that are certified to be free of known carcinogens in order to keep our players safe and healthy as well as to protect our air, land, and watershed.

  • Lighted sports fields should be placed only in areas of town where the light pollution does not infringe on nearby residents.

  • Commercial mega-sports complexes have no place in Holmdel because they impact our precious land and negatively impact the quality of life of Holmdel residents.

To read Holmdel Township parks and recreation Needs Assessment Report dated March 13, 2018, click here.

Library

CILU applauds the expansion of the library which had been underserving the needs of our community, yet is concerned about the lack of transparency involved in the process of decision-making. While the library was stated to be “free” to Township taxpayers, it is unclear how much it has actually cost the town so far and will cost in the future.

Firehouse

CILU greatly appreciates the hard work and dedication of our volunteer firefighters.  Following four devastating fires since the closing of the firehouse in the southern part of town, we urge the Township Committee to prioritize our fire safety in terms of funding and other support.

  • CILU strongly backs the need for the new firehouse since the closing of the Main Street Firehouse in 2014. This issue is of utmost importance and should take precedence when budgeting decisions are being made.

  • CILU is in support of placing the new firehouse on Crawfords Corner Road near the municipal complex. This location is strategically situated to provide easy access for firefighters and is in close proximity to the southern side of town while the fire station on Centerville Drive can continue to service the northern side.

Affordable Housing

CILU recognizes the need to provide affordable housing for low and middle-income families in Holmdel. We advocate that these homes be interspersed throughout neighborhoods as has been done in the past where the appropriate services exist rather than in a few high-density developments.

  • Zoning for these homes should be consistent with Holmdel’s Master Plan and associated regulatory standards without the expansive use of zoning changes, waivers, or variances.

  • Affordable housing densities should be as compatible as possible with existing housing in adjacent areas of town.

  • Densities should be consistent with carrying capacity of the land, with special attention to drainage issues.

  • Protecting existing natural resources (open space, stream buffers, marshlands, etc.) should be a priority when designating sites for affordable housing.