BY DAN RADEL APP Staff Writer - The Pentagon has officially canceled plans to open housing to the general public at Naval Weapons Station Earle, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., announced Tuesday.

Smith said the decision alleviates "local concerns about security and the proper vetting of nonmilitary renters who would be exempt from paying property taxes."

The issue surfaced in January because about 30 percent of the 89 residences managed by Balfour Beatty Northeast Housing on the base was empty.

Currently, active duty military personnel are preferred, but the units are open in some cases to other military members, National Guard and reservists, civil service employees, and military and civil service retirees.

Locals Oppose:Officials poised to fight Earle civilian housing

Schools: Bill would move Earle students to Colts Neck

However, state, county and local officials fought the plan for a year, saying that opening the weapons station housing to members of the general public would pose a serious security risk for Monmouth County.

“We used every tool in our toolkit to express our concerns that allowing civilians to rent housing on NWS Earle, an active ammunition depot, would create unnecessary security risks for our community,” said Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth.

An attempt by the Navy in 2010 to open the housing on the base to the general public was also defeated.

The base is located in parts of Colts Neck, Howell, Middletown, Tinton Falls and Wall.

This story can be found online at: http://www.app.com/story/news/military/2017/10/27/housing-plan-nixed-naval-weapon-station-earle/806081001/