Edison may cut down size of new construction along Amboy Avenue

EDISON - An ordinance amending the Amboy Avenue Redevelopment Plan to eliminate four-story buildings in the Clara Barton section is scheduled to be introduced at Wednesday's Township Council meeting.

But both residents in the neighborhood, as well as some council members, are unsure if the ordinance will achieve what residents desire − shorter buildings as well as less dense development in an area where parking is already an issue.

For months, residents of the Clara Barton section have been lobbying the council to repeal the 2016 Amboy Avenue Redevelopment Plan which created a commercial corridor overlay district that permitted mixed-use retail/office, with a height of four stories in the district.

But due to limited approved or completed projects since the plan's adoption, and the impact on the character of the neighborhood along with feedback from the residents, the council has determined it's in the best interests of the township and community to amend the redevelopment plan and eliminate four-story buildings, the ordinance states.

Under the ordinance mixed-use retail/office, mixed-use retail/residential and residential buildings will be restricted to a maximum height of 35 feet, which is 10 feet less than four stories. In addition, mixed-use retail/office and residential buildings will be restricted to maximum of 3.5 stories and mixed-use retail/residential and residential buildings will be permitted to have roof decks or rooftop access for residents and retail clients.

The ordinance states all other provisions of the redevelopment plan that are not in conflict with the changes will remain unchanged.

Resident Sue Malone-Barber said the Planning Board's review of the Master Plan recommends lowering the building heights along Amboy Avenue, but still allow four story, 45-foot tall structures on large corner lots of at least a half-acre or more.

She said the Amboy Avenue analysis determined four-story buildings do not fit on small lots and there needs to be more places to park. She said the new study indicates there are nine lots that meet the criteria for four-story development, but these lots are unlikely to be developed for various reasons.

"The door has once again been left open for developers," Malone-Barber said during Monday's council work session.

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Malone-Barber said the residents recently met with Mayor Sam Joshi and are grateful for the promise to introduce an ordinance that will amend the Amboy Avenue Redevelopment Plan.

She said the ordinance doesn't exactly say what Joshi promised, but "it's getting there." She said the ordinance doesn't include office buildings, which means they could be 40 feet tall.

"I feel this needs to be tighter," she said.

Resident Akhtar Nasser also asked if there was a way to tighten the ordinance so it meets what residents have been fighting for in the last eight years. He said he believes the 35-foot building height should be universal.

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Council President Nishith Patel said the council could vote it down and do a comprehensive plan, but said the Clara Barton residents would be unhappy with that because nothing is moving forward.

"There is always a compromise we have to make. Do we move forward and take what we have on the table or we delay and people aren't happy. Either way we go there are going to be compromises," he said.

Councilman John Poyner, who lives in the Clara Barton neighborhood, said he's concerned about density, which he feels hasn't been addressed.

And Councilman Joe Coyle said he's yet to see the town engage the business community in the Amboy Avenue discussions, and suggested the ordinance be pulled from the agenda.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Edison may cut down size of new construction along Amboy Avenue