BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
Long Branch LONG BRANCH — A townhouse project that drew opposition from residents in two towns has been scrapped.
In its place, the developer is
planning to build three single-family homes on a tract located on the corner of Columbia and Riverdale avenues, near the Long Branch/Monmouth Beach border.
Constantine Katsifis, Monroe Township, had submitted an application to the Long Branch Zoning Board last year seeking use and bulk variances for six attached townhouses on the 30,000-square-foot corner property.
But before the Zoning Board completed hearings, which were sometimes contentious, Katsifis decided to change the project, according to his attorney, Gary Rosensweig, Princeton.
“Due to various circumstances, the applicant withdrew [the] application and has submitted [a new] proposal to the Planning Board,” according to the amended application filed with the board.
The new project, which was approved by the Planning Board last month, calls for three single-family conforming houses to be constructed on the tract, which is located in an R-3 one-family residential zone.
The project is permitted in the zone and no variances were needed for approval, according to a spokesman for Nelson Engineering, Ocean Township, which prepared the plans.
The applicant is in the process of finalizing the details for the single-family homes and at this time no timeline has been set for the start of the project, according to the spokesman
The proposed site is surrounded to the north and west by single-family houses, to the east by an automobile service station and to the south by commercial properties, churches and school grounds.
The original project called for the construction of six, three-story, two-bedroom townhouses with an attached two-car garage on each unit.
As originally proposed, the project drew criticism at an October zoning meeting with some residents saying it was not in keeping with the overall look of the neighborhood and opposing the zoning variance sought by the developer.
The Planning Board approved the new application and made seven recommendations in the approval, including that the plan be approved by the Monmouth County Planning Board, the subdivision be filed with the county and sidewalks and curbs be repaired or replaced.
Once the plans for the three single-family homes are complete, the city engineer will verify that all conditions have been met before construction can begin, according to Nelson Engineering.

