Eatontown, N.J. is set to see a major redevelopment project on the site of the Old Orchard Country Club, with CarMax and CubeSmart self-storage facility, along with 145 age-restricted single-family homes slated to replace the golf links. The project, to be finalized by the borough Planning Board, is proposed by Surrey Equities LLC and will see the transformation of the 136-acre property that was originally designed by renowned architect A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1929.
The upcoming project marks the culmination of years of efforts to develop the property, with previous proposals dating back more than 15 years. A previous proposal to build 700 homes and 535,000 square feet of retail on the site was met with opposition from Eatontown officials, as well as neighboring Oceanport, West Long Branch, and Monmouth County freeholders. Subsequent proposals sought to build age-restricted townhomes and commercial spaces, but were denied due to zoning regulations.
Under the township’s existing zoning rules, only 129 single-family homes or a golf course were permitted on the property. Last year, the Borough Council approved new zoning to allow commercial development along Route 36, while also ensuring buffer zones between existing residential homes and the proposed development. Surrey Ventures, the contract purchaser, has filed a plan to build 145 age-restricted single-family homes, along with a CarMax dealership and a CubeSmart self-storage facility on the site.
The CarMax facility will encompass 7,694 square feet and include a carwash, fuel dispenser, and sales staging area. Plans also include a three-story, 33,780-square-foot building for the CubeSmart self-storage facility, with 1,200 square feet of office space. A 35-acre parcel on the property will be preserved as wooded and undeveloped open space. CarMax currently operates stores in several New Jersey locations, including Edison, Green Brook, Maple Shade, Sicklerville, and Wayne.
David P. Willis, an experienced business writer with Asbury Park Press, has been covering business, retail, real estate, and consumer news for 27 years. He writes APP.com’s What’s Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. The redevelopment project at the Old Orchard Country Club signals a significant transformation for the area, bringing new amenities and housing options to the community.
