TINTON FALLS — It may not be right for the Laurino property, but borough officials are still considering changing the permitted floor area ratio for industrial office park (IOP) zones. Borough Council President Luann Catlin said it will probably be approved.
"The Laurino tract was the only property abutting residential neighborhoods, so increasing the floor area ratio on that property was not appropriate. The floor area ratio increase will probably apply to other properties considered in the draft ordinance. It would be a logical change with respect to those properties," she said.
Catlin said that the change would increase floor area ratio from 25 percent to 30 percent in some five IOP properties throughout town. One of those properties is known as the Scarano tract — a former gravel pit now destined for office complex development, with a park to be built on the premises for residents and employees.
When asked about her feelings on overdevelopment in the borough with relation to the proposed increase in floor area ratio, Catlin said, "Yes, the building can be bigger, but that opens marketability up to different corporations. People have to understand that this is not a given. Because developers have the capacity to build to a 30 percent floor area ratio doesn’t mean that they will. That marketability, though, is important for the borough to have. I don’t believe it’s an infringement on open space."
Catlin went on to say that the borough is doing its best to preserve open space. She said she felt the borough was misunderstood in its efforts.
"We have to maintain some fiscal responsibility, work toward compromise for the benefit of the entire town and avoid litigation," Catlin said. "People can sue us for rezoning and decreasing the marketability of their land. We also can’t acquire every desirable large portion of land. It’s not fair to the rest of the borough — spending one-third of the municipal budget on one piece of property."
— Elaine Van Develde