Aberdeen Township
Aberdeen
1. Overview of Aberdeen Township and Its Waterfront
1.1 Geographic Overview
Aberdeen Township is a suburban township with a land area of 5.45
square miles, with about 2 miles of shoreline along the Raritan Bay.
This township is the northernmost town in Monmouth County
bordering Middlesex County and also borders the towns of
Matawan, Marlboro, Holmdel, Hazlet and Keyport. The township
has convenient access to the Garden State Parkway and local highways, as well as
commuter rail service to New York City. It is a suburban township containing a mix of
residential, light industry and shopping centers. Sections of the Township include:
Cliffwood, Cliffwood Beach, Freneau, Oakshades, River Gardens, Strathmore and
Woodfield. The township is about 20 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport
and about 30 miles from New York City. (Coordinates: Latitude: 40.408N, Longitude: 74.216W)
1.2 Demographics
The 2000 Census reports the Township’s population as 17,454. Population has increased
338.2% since 1950. It increased most rapidly during the 1960s (140.2%). More recently,
there was a decline in growth rate during the 1970s (-2.5%) and the 1980s (-1.1%); with
pending new development planned for the township, an increase is likely to occur.
The racial composition is 78.8% White (Non-Hispanic), 12% Black, 9.2% Asian and
other, and 7% of Hispanic Origin.
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
1
Aberdeen Township
In 2000, the median household income was $68,125. The total number of housing units
was 6,542, of which 4,591 are owner-occupied and 1,423 renter occupied. 92.3% of the
housing stock is pre-1990. The median mortgage was at $1,529. The median rental cost
was $817. The median home value was at $160,800.
The occupations of the residents include “management, professional and related
occupations” at 42.2%, sales and office occupations at 28.9%, service occupations at
11.9%, production, transportation and material moving occupations at 10.1%,
construction, extraction and maintenance occupations at 6.9%, and .1% in farming,
fishing and forestry occupations. The top three industries in the Township are:
educational, health, and social services with 17.4%; professional, scientific, management,
administrative and waster management services with 13.7%; and, retail trade with 11%.
1.3 Historical Overview and Traditional Waterfront Uses
Aberdeen Township came into existence as a separate entity in
1977 when the residents of Matawan Township voted to
change the name of the Township in order to establish a
community identity separate from the Borough. Aberdeen was
formerly called Matawan Township and was part of Matawan
Borough, which in 1964 established the Council-Manager form of government,
commonly referred to as Faulkner of government. Residents voted to call their
community Aberdeen Township.
Of the seven sections that comprise Aberdeen Township, Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach
are the areas with some traditional waterfront uses. Historically being more of traditional
agricultural community, the township’s traditional waterfront uses seem tied to its
surrounding neighboring municipalities like Matawan Borough, Middletown, and others
which are connected to more navigable waters. Aberdeen’s sections of Cliffwood (07721)
and Cliffwood Beach (07735) are north of Matawan Creek. They are tight little
communities of curving, tree-lined streets, and homes that have not seen the
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
2
Aberdeen Township
gentrification that has swept other sections, such as Freneau, Oakshades, River Gardens,
Strathmore and Woodfield.
In the early 1800s, the area around Matawan Creek was primarily agricultural land and
the waterway was used as a route by farmers to get to Raritan Bay and out to the Atlantic
Ocean for shipping goods. By the mid-1800s, this area became a manufacturing town
and a resort area. In the late 19th Century into the early 20th Century, Cliffwood Beach
had dance halls and a casino on its boardwalk. Ferries and boats once transported people
for weekend “get-aways” and summer vacationing, especially for Saturday night
entertainment and dancing.
During the 1920's a beach resort community was established in the Cliffwood Beach
section. This resort atmosphere changed after World War II when post-war housing
boom occurred that transformed the resort housing in the area into year-round homes.
Evidence of the beach bungalow style structures still exists throughout Cliffwood Beach
and most, if not all, have been adapted and expanded to accommodate year-round
dwelling. Additionally, as a result of hurricanes, the boardwalk and everything on it was
destroyed right around the time the Parkway was created in the 1950s. With the
opportunity to travel elsewhere by car, the area never recovered.
Today, the township is mainly comprised of suburban residences, light industry and
shopping centers.
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
3
Aberdeen Township
2. Waterfront Use
2.1 Summary of Waterfront
Aberdeen Township has a
few marinas, recreational
waterfront parks, and
Cliffwood Beach. The
remaining waterfront
areas are predominantly
undeveloped floodplains
Photo of the beach at Cliffwood Beach
and wetlands.
Notably, Aberdeen has
established critical areas and critical ordinances in its 1968 Wetlands Rule. Twenty-five
acres of land in the township has been designated as environmentally critical. The
Cliffwood Beach waterfront is an isolated area along dunes, which are protected. As for
waterfront use, the 5 ft. to 12 ft. channel depth and the fixed bridge limit the use,
navigability and potential of developing this waterfront area. This fixed bridge is where
the infamous series of shark attacks took place in the 1916.
Additionally, near the
Photo of portion of sea wall at Cliffwood Beach
beach portion of Cliffwood
Beach, a sea-wall (pictured
to the right) exists to buffer
the area from the harsh
storms.
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
4
Aberdeen Township
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Fee
X
X
Restroom Facilities
Handicapped Accessible
X
X
Food Concessions
Parking
X
X
GPS
Picnic Facilities
Swimming
Hand Launch
Public Marina
X
Birdwatching
Location
Passive Recreation
Address/
Trailered Launch
Common
Name/Facility
Private Marina
Fishing
2.2 Waterfront Access Sites:
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Raritan and
Ocean
Private Propety
Others
Boulevards
Center
Lakeshore
Cliffwood Beach
Drive/Beach
front
X
Aberdeen’s
and accessible
Informally used
Publicly recognized sites
Cliffwood Beach
Veterans Memorial
Lakeshore
Park
Drive
Cliffwood Beach
Next to the
Sea Wall
Beachfront
X
None
None
Private Homes
Along Sea
along Shore Wall
Wall
Blue Rock Cafe
X
X
483 Amboy
Wagner Marina
Road
X
X
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
X
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Aberdeen Township
Cliffwood Beach Center is a park located on Raritan and Ocean Boulevards. The park
has a recreation center with kitchen facilities, basketball courts and a playground area for
children. Private parties can rent the facility. It can accommodate small groups of 65
persons or less.
Cliffwood Beach’s Beach: The beach in Cliffwood beach (picture left below) is located
along located along Lakeshore Drive and the beach front. It has a somewhat paved
parking lot (picture right below).
The Aberdeen Veterans Memorial Park is
located near the beach on Lakeshore Drive. It has
a paved parking lot, two basketball courts, swings,
and an in-line hockey rink.
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
6
Aberdeen Township
The Sea Wall next to the beach in
Cliffwood Beach is about a half mile in
length. The sea wall was erected in an
attempt to reduce beach erosion and wave
impact, and serves as a means to deal with
shoreline erosion. A few private homes
are found along the sea wall portion of
Cliffwood Beach. However, the street and
beach area connecting to the sea wall
provide open public access to the area, and the sea wall doubles as a popular fishing spot.
Still, there are no docks, no public launches, and the sea wall looked as if it needs some
maintenance.
Private Luxury Homes along the sea wall
portion of Cliffwood Beach.
Blue Rock Café is a casual dining restaurant
(pictured below).
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
7
Aberdeen Township
Wagner’s Marina is located at 483 Amboy Road
in Cliffwood Beach, NJ. It is a full service marina
and boat sales facility. It has over 200 boat slips.
It is accessible via Raritan Bay to Matawan Creek.
3. Waterfront Issues and Planning Initiatives
3.1 Waterfront Issues
As is the case with many municipalities, Aberdeen Township is poised for redevelopment
and seeks to preserve portions of its Bayshore waterfront. The waterfront area and
surrounding area, which consist of wetlands and flooplains, in the township are in
Planning Area 5, which is noted as being environmentally sensitive in the State
Development and Redevelopment Plan. According to information from the “Bayshore
Watershed Regional Council,” Aberdeen has rezoned sections of their town for
conservation/recreation, including approximately 25 acres along Matawan Creek. This
action will help guide away from these areas those development projects that might have
a large impact on the physical environment.
The township also has a conservation plan for its tidal and inland wetlands, as well as
stream banks. The Zoning Maps mark a majority of the waterfront area as “CR”
(Conservation).
3.2 Planning Initiatives
There are plans in the Freneau area of Aberdeen Township for age-restricted housing, but
this is not located in the Bayshore waterfront area. The proposed plans are to build an
800 unit development within an area of 150 acres of undeveloped forest. There are also
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
8
Aberdeen Township
plans for a Commerce and Transportation Center Redevelopment Area; this too is located
away from the waterfront area, near the train station.
In the River Gardens section of the township, a “Riverside Recreational Facility” by
Matawan Creek and Riverdale Road has been proposed. The Township purchased the
property under an open space preservation program in 2002. The vision for the site is for
passive recreation although features such as a bulkhead, a basketball court, children’s
playground, picnic area and gazebo are also being considered. A boat-launch ramp will
likely not be incorporated into the project due to township liability issues.
4. Summary
Overall, the township’s Bayshore waterfront area is quite accessible by car, with some
parking and signage. Although there are a few luxury homes near the Sea Wall portion
of Cliffwood Beach, the street and beach area connecting to the Sea Wall provide open
public access to the area. Still, there are no docks, no public launches, and the Sea Wall
looked as if it needs some maintenance. As Aberdeen Township proceeds with its
redevelopment it will be interesting to reassess initiative, plans and progress to see how
its mix of conservation and redevelopment are integrated.
References
Census 2000 (Township of Aberdeen)
Aberdeen Township Master Plan, May 1999.
USGS, Satellite Photograph: Aberdeen- Matawan
(http://www.city-data.com/city/Aberdeen-New-Jersey.html)
Mark Coren, Township Manager, Interview (January 13, 2004).
Adeline Arnold, Guided Tour of Cliffwood Beach (January 13, 2004).
Source: Bonnie J. McCay, Debbie Mans, Satsuki Takahashi, and Sheri Seminski. 2005.
“Public Access and Waterfront Development in New Jersey: From the Arthur Kill to the
Shrewsbury River .” Keyport, New Jersey: NY NJ Baykeeper. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org
9