***Zoning application for Lefferts Woods postponed until March 4, 2024 meeting***

Friends, we need your help. We are a group of local neighbors who want to help save the last wooded, undeveloped lot on Lake Lefferts in Matawan from being turned into single family homes. This land would be much better suited as a park or nature preserve with walking trails, fishing docks and kayak launches. 

Please sign and share our petition to show your support for keeping this land preserved and that the Matawan Planning/Zoning Board should not grant a zoning variance that would allow these woods to be leveled for 3 single family lakeside homes. 

There is still time to let our voices be heard and stop this natural land from disappearing forever. Redevelopment of derelict and abandoned properties is one thing, but tearing down trees to put more homes on our lake is not something we can support as a community. 

Some further information:
The First Presbyterian Church had a developer approach them who is looking to purchase the back portion of the Church’s property located on Route 34 and Lake Lefferts so single family homes can be built (directly across from MJ’s). This 5 acre property represents the last large lot that is undeveloped on the banks of Lake Lefferts in Matawan. We should not blame the church, who are only trying to gain funds to maintain their building, but instead work towards a solution that works for all in the community.

These woods have remained untouched for hundreds of years and are home to a multitude of wildlife such as eagles, osprey, deer, raccoons, possums and foxes. This spot on the lake is historical and believed by some scholars to be the landing site of the first Presbyterian settlers who journeyed to Monmouth county from Scotland in the 1680’s when it was Matawan Creek.

This land has been the topic of discussion for several years within our neighborhood. We believe this lot deserves to be preserved and would make a great addition to our town or County as a park or nature preserve with walking trails, informational placards on the wildlife/history, fishing docks and kayak launches.

Our plan is to voice our opposition as a community to the zoning variance that would allow these change to the lots at the March 4, 2024, 7 pm Matawan Planning/Zoning Board meeting both in person and by showing our petition. It will be held at Matawan Borough Hall, 201 Broad St., Matawan. 

The next step would then be finding a community solution by working with the County and Matawan Borough leadership, Church leadership and local groups to find a way to preserve this land through grants and other funding sources. This plan would allow the Church and our community the ability to enjoy this land for generations to come.

Join us and help save the woods of Lake Lefferts. Once they are gone they are gone forever. 

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