Edison officials are rezoning areas of the former Camp Kilmer site on Plainfield Avenue to allow for a variety of public uses.
The Township Council introduced an ordinance last week changing the zoning on portions of the former U.S. Army base. The action, which facilitates the transfer of parcels to the Board of Education and the township, was recommended during a discussion of the town’s master plan at a council meeting last month.
The Camp Kilmer redevelopment plan provides for the transfer of several parcels — Area 1, consisting of approximately 7 acres to be used by the township for recreational purposes; Area 2, consisting of approximately 2.3 acres to be used by the school board for education-related uses; Area 3, consisting of approximately 4.3 acres to be used by the township for recreational uses; and Area 5, consisting of approximately 3.6 acres to be used by the township’s Department of Public Works.
These areas are presently governed by the Light Industrial (L-I) District Zone, but the ordinance will rezone the areas to permit their intended uses.
The 2.3 acres to be used by the Edison Township school district will sit in the Education District 1 (E-1) Zone, permitting education related uses.
The school board has set aside $3.3 million for its portion of the Camp Kilmer site, with plans to use it for a school to house special education and preschool students. The extra building space is sorely needed, school officials have said, adding that the district’s elementary school classrooms are filled to the maximum. Woodbrook Elementary School, for example, has 28 students per room. Edison Township officials have plans for the site that include 120 affordable housing units, a community center and public works uses.
The township’s area will be rezoned as a Township District 1 (T-1) Zone.
Area 4, consisting of approximately 6.7 acres to be used for low- and moderate-income housing and a homeless shelter, was effectively rezoned in December. A redevelopment plan was adopted for the area in April.
The council will hold a second reading of the ordinance at its Aug. 28 meeting.