BY MATTHEW AUERBACH
Staff Writer
How important is the character of a neighborhood? That was one of the many questions raised by concerned residents of Metuchen who attended last week’s Planning Board meeting.
If the plans presented by the owners of property on the corner of Rector Street and Hillside Avenue are given final approval, the 1.4-acre tract will have a completely new look.
The applicants propose tearing down the Fairweather home, which some consider historic, on Rector Street and building two new homes in its place. The proposed homes would be 3,000-square-feet, single-family dwellings and would be built on both the Fairweather site and the empty lot next to it. In addition to the new homes, new concrete walkways, driveways, concrete driveway aprons and a depressed curb for the proposed homes will also be built. There are two existing homes on Hillside Avenue.
While engineer William Salmon of Gladstone Designs, Gladstone, exhibited color drawings of the proposed new dwellings, he said that the homes were "conceptual," meaning there were no small-scale models to be shown.
In response to questions from members of the board, Salmon and Richard Mongelli, owner of the home on 105 Hillside Ave., said that they couldn’t say for sure exactly what the new homes would look like.
The appearance of the proposed homes was a point of concern for neighbors during the public session.
"I’m concerned that there’s no guarantee the builder will follow the plans you’ve presented," Mark Daniels, 20 Rector St., said.
Glenn Schwartz, 60 Pleasant Place, was worried about drainage problems.
"The size of the homes are completely out of character with the neighborhood," said Charlie Griffin of 34 Rector St.
The issue of two large maple trees being cut down to make way for two driveways for the Rector Street dwellings was also addressed.
In each case, Salmon and Mongelli assured the residents that all changes would conform to existing laws.
Roberta Edwards, 81 Hillside Ave. said she felt that the Fairweather home, even though it is old and rundown, should be maintained and kept as an historic landmark.
"I know you’re just going to look at me and nod your heads, but I think what you’re doing is wrong," said Edwards.
The board voted to grant preliminary approval.
The application is on the board’s docket again on Nov. 20.