By Maria Prato-Gaines
JAMESBURG In an effort to attract more businesses to the borough, the Borough Council is considering an ordinance that would rezone West Railroad Avenue from an office-residential to a neighborhood-commercial zone sometime in March.
The proposed change would affect a five-block stretch of West Railroad Avenue between Gatzmer Avenue and West Church Street.
Councilman John Longo Jr. said businesses interested in setting up shop in the West Railroad area have backed out in the past due to the current zoning and its limitations.
”(Rezoning) broadens the business area,” he said. “This will reduce the amount of variances needed.”
According to borough documents, the current office-residential zone allows for professional and private offices, medical offices and facilities, financial institutions and public uses on West Railroad Avenue.
Under the proposed neighborhood-commercial zoning, retail stores, single-family dwellings, personal services, professional and private offices, medical offices and facilities, financial institutions, restaurants and public uses would be allowed.
Mr. Longo said the Land Use Board unanimously recommended that the West Railroad zoning should be changed to neighborhood-commercial at its Jan. 10 meeting.
Once the ordinance is drafted council members will have a first reading of the proposed rezoning plan at which point they can weigh in on the change.
A second reading of the ordinance would follow at which time public comment would be heard.
Mr. Longo said that if the rezoning becomes law, businesses would be able to move into buildings that have already been established for business or purchase a residential house in the area and convert it for the proposed use.
However, if rezoning does occur, businesses eyeing the West Railroad district could not completely bypass the Land Use Board, he said, as other items such as site plans and parking would still need board approval.
Mr. Longo said this will ultimately help the borough bring in some needed revenue.
”It will help build a tax base,” he said.
