Townhouse 'Concept' At Holmdel's Horn Antenna Shown In Renderings

HOLMDEL, NJ — On Tuesday, the unveiling of a developer's concept for a housing project at Crawford Hill coincided with continued pleas for preservation of the site of the landmark Horn antenna.

The owner of the Crawford Hill site that is home to the historic Horn antenna is making his case that an 88-unit townhouse development there will be a benefit to the township - and will not affect the landmark designation of the antenna.

The development, which would be called Crawford Hill Estates, could "provide benefits for the entire community," owner Rakesh Antala, the managing partner of Crawford Hill Holdings, said in a news release on Tuesday. The company purchased the 43-acre site in December 2020.

For the first time, the developer provided a rendering of what the townhouses would look like, and disclosed the project's name.

But these niceties of the project are being presented in the context of vehement public opposition and a clear concern by the township about the plan.

Township Committee hears public concerns

On Tuesday evening, members of the public once again urged the Township Committee to save the site as open space and to preserve the Horn antenna undisturbed.

It was built onsite in 1959 by Bell Labs, one speaker noted. The site is "significant and sacred," the speaker said.

The members of the public again cited the Horn's unique place in scientific history, both in satellite research and in the discovery of information central to understanding the creation of the universe. You can hear the relevant comments by the public here at approximately minute 58.

At the meeting, Mayor DJ Luccarelli and the committee heard these pleas, and Luccarelli assured the public that the committee is deeply involved in discussions about the Horn antenna.

"Just because we are not making a lot of comments please don't take that (as) we are not doing anything. We're working very hard behind the scenes through our attorney or amongst ourselves on these things," he said.

For example, the township has filed a lawsuit to determine the actual ownership of the Horn antenna and any claim the former owners of the site, Nokia, may have to it.

The township now has various concepts for the site provided by the developer on its website.

Zoning of the site

Crawford Hill and the Horn are currently in an RL-40 zone, meaning use of the site is limited to laboratories devoted to research, design or experimentation, the group notes.

Previously the site was owned by Bell Labs and later Nokia, before it was purchased by Crawford Hill Holdings.

Regarding the Crawford Hill project, Thom Ammirato, a spokesman for the company, said the project is "some time away from getting to the Zoning Board." And he noted the plans are "conceptual" at this point.

But Antala said his company's goal is to repurpose the property.

Keeping in mind the residential characteristics of Holmdel, Antala said, "our objective was to work with the town to repurpose the property and put it to a productive, non-commercial use. That is still our goal." Antala is a tech real estate entrepreneur and a resident of Holmdel, according to his spokesman.

Preservation versus development

The opposition from the public is organized by a coalition of local groups calling for preservation of the property at 791 Holmdel Road as open space, ensuring its continued designation as a National Historic Landmark.

The president of one member of the coalition, Julie Roth of Citizens for Informed Land Use, questioned the use of the site for any residential development:

"Factor in the easements and steep slopes, and much of the 43 acres is not suitable for development. The developer's concept plan depicts tightly clustered town homes in an environmentally sensitive area that is not zoned for residential development," Roth said.

Antala, however, said the site will contain open space and offer a housing option for older adults (the townhouses will be age-restricted), and revenue for the township.

And he said the Horn antenna would not be removed from the site, but relocated there and would be protected.

He noted that the residents of the new development will have substantial disposable income to spend at local shops and restaurants.

But Roth said the value of development is overrated.

"The cost of community services needed as a result of residential development can drain local budgets and surpass the tax revenue generated," she said.

"Open space offers additional economic benefits such as an increase in area property values and revenue generated from tourism," she said, citing land use ratios from The Cost of Community Services in Monmouth County, a study by American Farmland Trust.