Edison Council Approves Redevelopment Plan for Route 27 Corridor

EDISON, NJ - The township council approved a Redevelopment Plan for 1810 Route 27, the site of a former retail store, gas station, and service garage. The council unanimously approved the plan at their regular meeting on Wednesday.

“For those that are familiar with this area, it has not exactly looked the greatest over the past decade or so. I am happy to see this up for consideration,” said Council president John Coyle, “As many people know this intersection can certainly use an upgrade and this absolutely assists in this venture.”

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The site will be permitted for restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores, personal services, banks, spas, etc. Prohibited uses include drive up services, night clubs, taverns, liquor stores, cannabis stores, warehouses, billboards, and residential use.

“The Route 27 corridor is vital to the economic health of Edison Township. Although the corridor hosts many thriving retail and commercial businesses and provides housing for thousands of families, there are vacant and obsolete properties that have stymied economic development,” the redevelopment plan prepared by Bignell Planning Consultants, Inc reads.

The lot is located at the corner of Route 27, Plainfield Avenue, and Penn Avenue and is approximately 0.578 acres. The property is identified on the Edison Tax Map as Block 160.03 Lot 18.01. It is currently owned by Edison Realty, LLC, according to the Redevelopment Plan.

The west portion of the lot was used as a retail store and showroom building, constructed around 1945. The building had a total floor area of 9,792 sf and was demolished in the fall of 2023, according to the plan. The east portion had a gasoline service station and repair garage known as “Wells Service Station.”  The service station was established sometime around 1950 and demolished in 2007.

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According to the Redevelopment Plan, the property has an extensive history of contamination from both on-site and off-site sources, and remains on the State of New Jersey Known Contaminated Sites list. The Edison Township Health Department indicates groundwater contamination has migrated under the highway as far as Division Street. Township records include a history of complaints from neighbors about petroleum and chemical odors.

The Redevelopment Plan requires the property be remediated to satisfy the environmental health and safety standards set by the NJDEP. Any redeveloper will bear the cost of remediation and will be required to report all findings and progress to the township and the health department.

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