Toms River’s native son Todd Frazier, who brought fame to the township as star of the championship 1998 Little League World Series team and is now slugging for the New York Mets, will soon have the best man cave in town.
The zoning board on Thursday night approved two applications for variance relief on the double-lot property owned by Frazier and his wife, Jackie. The couple already have a home on the plot off Old Freehold Road, but will now be able to enjoy it further with a slew of features built for a professional athlete.
Harvey York, the Fraziers’ attorney, told board members the township’s most famous family will be building a 3,390 square-foot gym, a regulation-size basketball court, and a four car garage with a residence above on the Old Freehold Road property.
One lot over on Dayna Court, the board approved a scaled-down proposal for an open pool area with a cabana along with pavers and driveway improvements. Originally, the application called for one-story pool house, but York said the project was scaled back to reduce lot coverage – the subject of the variance.
“There will be no adverse impact,” York told board members, adding that the two lots combine for about two acres. Even with the additions, the require variance relief for lot coverage was minimal – down to just a few inches on one property and a margin of only 6 percent on the second.
Frazier was present at the meeting, having just returned from a tough 1-5 road trip against the Brewers and Padres. The Mets were off Thursday and will kick off a three-game series against the Marlins at Citi Field beginning Friday. He spoke briefly, trading a few laughs with the township engineer over improvements to the Toms River Little League complex since his breakout performance on the 1998 championship team.
The Fraziers’ application was approved unanimously by the board.