RED BANK – A long-protracted, large, downtown residential project may have moved a little closer to being realized with a narrowly split Planning Board decision.
The borough Planning Board on Monday in a 5-4 vote, endorsed what has become a controversial proposal to consider the long- vacant 55 West Front St. property as a site in need of redevelopment under provisions in a state statute. But that narrow vote didn’t come until after a lengthy debate on the plan that, like with the board’s discussion, has become increasingly divisive in the community – and a pointed political issue in this year’s local election.
Technically the vote at Monday evening’s meeting was to see if the board supported the analysis conducted by the borough special redevelopment counsel, Andrew Bayer, and land use planner Anthony Rodriguez, indicating that the non-condemnation redevelopment proposal conforms with the borough master plan for long-term land development goals.
The discussion among board members, though, came down to those who see this as a necessary step for much-needed new development to encourage vibrancy in the community and those who allege the plan is a giveaway to a developer, who failed to win a prior approval from the borough Zoning Board of Adjustment.
“This is the sort of property this law was aimed at,” Rodriguez said of the long-fallow Front Street site, referring to the state statute that would permit the development.
Board member Dan Mancuso, however, voiced concern about the process with local officials “going around and around…for this one owner, because they don’t want to build what fits,” with other board members maintaining this seemed like an attempted end-run around the local zoning board, which had previously denied this application.
Board member Linda Cohen, on the other hand, said, “I think this is a very good and perfect opportunity to move forward.”
TANTUM, a Jersey City real estate development firm, offered plans to construct the Element, a four-story, 35-unit upscale apartment complex and parking tier on the approximately one-acre site, across the street from the borough’s Riverside Gardens Park. The property has been vacant for about a decade and had previously been home to the Meridian Extended Care facility.
The borough Planning Board on Monday in a 5-4 vote, endorsed what has become a controversial proposal to consider the long- vacant 55 West Front St. property as a site in need of redevelopment under provisions in a state statute. But that narrow vote didn’t come until after a lengthy debate on the plan that, like with the board’s discussion, has become increasingly divisive in the community – and a pointed political issue in this year’s local election.
Technically the vote at Monday evening’s meeting was to see if the board supported the analysis conducted by the borough special redevelopment counsel, Andrew Bayer, and land use planner Anthony Rodriguez, indicating that the non-condemnation redevelopment proposal conforms with the borough master plan for long-term land development goals.
The discussion among board members, though, came down to those who see this as a necessary step for much-needed new development to encourage vibrancy in the community and those who allege the plan is a giveaway to a developer, who failed to win a prior approval from the borough Zoning Board of Adjustment.
“This is the sort of property this law was aimed at,” Rodriguez said of the long-fallow Front Street site, referring to the state statute that would permit the development.
Board member Dan Mancuso, however, voiced concern about the process with local officials “going around and around…for this one owner, because they don’t want to build what fits,” with other board members maintaining this seemed like an attempted end-run around the local zoning board, which had previously denied this application.
Board member Linda Cohen, on the other hand, said, “I think this is a very good and perfect opportunity to move forward.”
TANTUM, a Jersey City real estate development firm, offered plans to construct the Element, a four-story, 35-unit upscale apartment complex and parking tier on the approximately one-acre site, across the street from the borough’s Riverside Gardens Park. The property has been vacant for about a decade and had previously been home to the Meridian Extended Care facility.
The zoning board this spring denied the application, citing the size and density of the project and other concerns. In response, the developer approached Mayor Pasquale Menna about allowing the project to be reconsidered, as opposed to the developer appealing the board denial to Superior Court.
Menna and the governing body had considered this site and the White Street municipal parking lot as two locations in need of redevelopment for the community’s betterment. The parking lot is under consideration for a possible future parking garage to address the chronic downtown parking shortage.
But the 55 West Front St. consideration has caused a stir among officials and the community. It has seemed to drive a wedge between Menna and his Democratic colleagues on the council who have expressed reservations over it. Menna now seems allied with council Republicans who are supporting this redevelopment. The mayor maintains this redevelopment is a needed and useful tool that would benefit the community in the long run.
This is one topic that has seemed to take center stage for November’s election. And Planning Board member and Borough Councilman Michael Whelan, a Republican, said the opposition is politically motivated and preventing this would further hobble the already struggling downtown commercial district.
With the board’s ultimate acceptance of the plan, the matter moves to the borough council to draft an ordinance.
Proponents insist this is just another step in a long process. Should the ordinance eventually be approved, the property developer will have to once again submit a completed project site plan. But now the matter would be evaluated by the planning board, where the burden is less stringent than before the zoning board.
Menna and the governing body had considered this site and the White Street municipal parking lot as two locations in need of redevelopment for the community’s betterment. The parking lot is under consideration for a possible future parking garage to address the chronic downtown parking shortage.
But the 55 West Front St. consideration has caused a stir among officials and the community. It has seemed to drive a wedge between Menna and his Democratic colleagues on the council who have expressed reservations over it. Menna now seems allied with council Republicans who are supporting this redevelopment. The mayor maintains this redevelopment is a needed and useful tool that would benefit the community in the long run.
This is one topic that has seemed to take center stage for November’s election. And Planning Board member and Borough Councilman Michael Whelan, a Republican, said the opposition is politically motivated and preventing this would further hobble the already struggling downtown commercial district.
With the board’s ultimate acceptance of the plan, the matter moves to the borough council to draft an ordinance.
Proponents insist this is just another step in a long process. Should the ordinance eventually be approved, the property developer will have to once again submit a completed project site plan. But now the matter would be evaluated by the planning board, where the burden is less stringent than before the zoning board.
