Hazlet 1. Overview of Hazlet and Its Waterfront 1.1 Geographic Overview Hazlet Township is located in Monmouth County. The Township has a land area of 5.6 square miles. Situated in the Bayshore region of Monmouth County, Hazlet has convenient access to railways and highways, such as Route 35, Route 36, and the Garden State Parkway, connecting to the Jersey shore area to the south and to New York City to the north. This location bolsters the Aerial Photo of Hazlet, USGS township s identity as a suburban-residential community heavily populated by commuters. The geographic location of Hazlet is actually in the inland hills of the Bayshore region and does not directly touch Raritan Bay except through Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek. Union Beach and Keansburg reach out on either side to landlock the township boundary before it reaches the waterfront. Still, as a part of the Bayshore region, Hazlet is often referred to as the Gateway to the Shore. Despite its lack of significant waterfront it is an important part of the Bayshore region. 1.2 Demographics The 2000 Census reports Hazlet s population at 21,378. The racial composition is 92% white, of that 4.2% is Hispanic. Asians comprise 3% of the population, while the remaining percentage is comprised of other races or a mix of two or more races. Demographically, Hazlet can be characterized as a bedroom community. The major sources of employment are located outside of the municipality. The main occupations of 1
residents are as follows: management and related occupations; sales and office occupations; professional and related occupations; management, business, financial operations; service occupations; production, transportation and material moving occupation; construction, extraction and maintenance occupations; and farming, fishing and forestry, but only with 0.2% of the population falling into this category. Only four manufacturing firms with more than five employees are located within the Township. The largest is International Flavors and Fragrances, located on Rte 36, followed by Arco Tool Company, Air Molded Products Corporation and Container Graphics Corporation. Notably the largest business in Hazlet, as of 1990, the International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) Inc. s 43,000 square feet plant serves as the company's U.S. Soap and Household Products Creative and Commercial Center In examining the properties of Hazlet s residential component, the median household income as of 2000 is $65,697. 89% of these 7,244 housing units are owner-occupied. The median home value is $168,700. Of the existing housing stock, 83% was built before 1980, although the reported median age of homes is about 26 years old. A large portion of residents income is generated outside of Hazlet s borders with 73.43% commuting to work by car. 1.3 Historical Overview and Traditional Waterfront Uses Founded as Raritan Township in 1848, the name Hazlet Township was adopted in 1967. Historically agricultural community, Hazlet does not have bayshore waterfront per se because it is located on the Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek, which connects to Raritan Bay. 2
2, Waterfront Use 2.1 Summary of Waterfront Access points are limited to one unofficial public site and to privately owned marinas. Residential and public use of the waterfront is limited geographically as a result of Hazlet s landlocked location, with the exception of a small portion of the township connected with Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek. Along Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek, there are 3 private marinas located about one-quarter mile from Raritan Bay. It is estimated that these privately owned marinas have about 150 slips in total. Additionally, Captain s Cove also has a small seasonal dinette/restaurant. A few older homes backup to Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek. These homes are older single family homes. There are no other residential developments in the Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek area. Opportunities for public access to the bayshore waterfront are found in neighboring municipalities, such as Keansburg and Union Beach. However, one waterfront location at First Street and Park Avenue has the potential to become a public access point. The site is not bulkheaded and has no other improvements on it. Based on the 1978 Master Plan, Hazlet is generally a predominantly residential community exhibiting a residential component of almost 40% of developed land area; commercial utilization is approximately 7% of land area, industrial approximately 1.5%, parks and recreation approximately 3.5%, other public and semi-public and streets, roads and utilities comprising approximately 26%. Of the total land area it was reported that approximately 24.7% was either agricultural or vacant. 3
The Township does have some flood plains and has zoning for an I-M (Industrial- Marine) District in the area of town north of Route 36. The purpose of the I-M Zone District is to service business uses oriented to marine activities, such as boatyards, marinas, marina related service, restaurants and parking areas. In the past, flooding occurred along the areas near Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek; a flood gate was added by the Army Corps of Engineers that spans between Keansburg and Union Beach to control flow. 2.2 Waterfront Access Sites: Common Name/Facility Address/ Location GPS Fishing Private Marina Public Marina Trailered Launch Hand Launch Passive Recreation Birdwatching Swimming Parking Handicapped Accessible Picnic Facilities Food Concessions Restroom Facilities Fee Publicly accessible None Informally used and accessible Small Hazlet owned Lot First Street & Park Ave Others None Boland Marine 1 Hogarth Associates Street X X X X X Captain s Cove Private Property Marina and Restaurant 61 Park Avenue X X X X X X X X Along Waackaack Creek and Private Homes Thorns along Creeks Creek 4
Lentze Marina 75 First Street (on Waackacck Creek along Laurel Avenue and First Street X X X X There are no publicly accessible waterfront access points. Informally used and accessible: First Street & Park Avenue: This informal access point is a small parcel of land owned by Hazlet. The site has no associated signage or parking. Private Property: Boland Marine Associates: This marine business has a small marina and store and conducts sales and repairs. Captain s Cove Marina and Restaurant: This small marina is located next to its larger neighbor marina, Lentze Marina. Captain s Cove has boat slip rentals, a seasonal restaurant, bait shop and conducts mechanical work and boat servicing. Lentze Marina: This marina has 95 boat slips and conducts mechanical work and boat servicing. Private Homes along Creeks: There are a few older single-family homes that back-up to Waackaack Creek and Thorns Creek. 5
3. Waterfront Issues and Planning Initiatives Hazlet Township has virtually no waterfront; therefore, there is no need for zoning development controls. The only special zoning for water-dependent uses is for the marinas along the creeks. With regard to Planning Initiatives, there are currently no major plans. Notably, if there were any major plans, the biggest problem would be lack of space for parking. Also, it is not seen to be in the interest of Hazlet to invest in increased waterfront access since Keyport, Union Beach and Keansburg are nearby and open to the public. Presently, there are no township plans for new businesses or residential developments that may affect the waterfront access for the general public. The only current businesses that are waterfront dependent and affect access are the marinas. 4. Summary There is little opportunity in Hazlet to increase public access. Other than access through the creeks, via the marinas, Hazlet does not have property on the waterfront. The only exception is an informally accessible small lot owned by Hazlet on First Street and Park Avenue. The Township feels that the public has ready waterfront access through neighboring municipalities. The marinas and transportation routes to the Jersey Shore and New York are the only effects of the township s proximity to the bayshore effects on the town s economy and character. Hazlet Township is a typical post-world War II suburb/bedroom community with strong roots in farming. References 2000 Census, Hazlet Township. Aerial Photo of Hazlet, USGS 6
Hazlet Zoning Map, (2004) Master Plan (1978). Public Works Department Representative, Interview (Feb. 2004). Re-examination Report of Master Plan and Development Regulations (Feb. 25, 2002). Township Clerk, Telephone Interview (Nov. 2003). 7