density of housing
the change will allow
Residents criticize
density of housing
the change will allow
BY MAURA DOWGIN
Staff Writer
EDISON — The township rezoned a Woodbridge Avenue site formerly designated for heavy industry to permit the construction of 300 apartments.
The Township Council passed an ordinance changing the zoning on a single lot, which is located near the state Department of Environmental Protection offices on Woodbridge Avenue, by a vote of 5-1-1 at its Dec. 22 meeting.
Councilwoman Joan Kapitan was the only vote against the measure. Councilman Parag Patel was not present at the meeting.
The passage comes on the heels of a Dec. 6 state Superior Court decision in which a judge ordered the municipality to comply with state rules that require the development of more affordable housing in the township.
Beechwood LLC, intends to develop the 300 unit complex, which would contain 45 units of affordable housing, according to township officials.
Currently, the township is working to satisfy the second round of its fair-share affordable-housing obligation, officials said.
The change to the zoning law allows residential and commercial buildings to be constructed on a lot on Woodbridge Avenue, which was formerly zoned for heavy industrial use, Township Attorney Louis Rainone said.
The development will bring the township into compliance with the state’s affordable-housing regulations, according to Rainone.
Once the apartments are built and the affordable apartments are deed-restricted to ensure low- to moderate-income people reside in the apartments, the township will not have to build more affordable housing for another six years, Rainone said.
The zoning change is required as part of the township’s housing plan, Rainone said. The township had to draft a housing plan because of a lawsuit brought against the township by Durham Associates, a development company.
"This decision was imposed upon us through lawsuits," said council President Peter Barnes.
Some members of the public questioned exactly what the court mandated.
"None of the council members were at the hearing [in New Brunswick on Dec. 6] when this was approved," said Flavio Komuves, an attorney who lives in town.
Komuves said the township could appeal a ruling that forces developers to build dense housing in town. He also called the council "pro-development and anti-senior."
Rainone said the council is not anti-senior.
"We have so many affordable senior units in town that we couldn’t use all those in this round," he said. "We have banked 45 units of senior housing for next round."
Also, it would not make sense to appeal a decision that upheld the township’s housing plan, Rainone said.
Some members of the public are concerned about what the new housing will do to taxes.
"In the future, with more housing and more children, we are going to … need more facilities," said Irene Wall, a township resident. "Whatever we do now is going to be around all of us for years."
Plans for the apartment complex will have to be approved by the township’s Planning Board, Rainone said.
The public will have an opportunity to have input at the board meetings, he added.