Developer Requests Zoning Change for Residential Area

For years, the lot at 230 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge near Reservoir Avenue has sat empty as developers have tried to come up with the best option for the two-acre area that slopes down from Kinderkamack Road to railroad tracks below.

This week, attorney Tom Barrett presented a request from the current owners for a zoning amendment from the current conditional use for an age-restricted housing zone to allow for 46 residential units to be split between a trio of buildings.

The borough approved Ordinance #1659 in 2009 to allow for the conditional use of age restricted, multi-family residential dwellings in the R-1 district from Block 1005, Lots 6.01 through 12 and Block 1302, Lots 1 through 3 as part of Chapter 416 (Zoning).

"We are requesting a revision to the ordinance to eliminate where it calls that families or individuals must be at least 55 years or older and none younger than 19 years of age," Barrett said. "At this time there is no real need for age restricted housing in the state. Another provision we are seeking to have eliminated is the requirement to provide a number of affordable housing units as required under COAH as it has been abolished."

The proposed project calls for 46 two-bath, two-bedroom units measuring 1100-square foot units to be built. The units would be split between three buildings, two of which would face out onto Kinderkamack Road and the third building placed further back on the property closer to the railroad tracks.

According to Barrett, the ideal demographic is young professionals, commuters and empy nesters who wish to stay in the area. Each unit has an estimated price tag of $325,000.

The buildings would measure 39.5 feet in height with pitched roofs to create a more residential feel, project architect Ray Ragona said. Increased setbacks would be included as well to create better access for the borough's fire trucks to reach the rear building.

Parking on the site would be handled by a mix of 92 parking spaces, garages and driveway space.

"If the Mayor and Council go forward with the zoning amendment, we're ready to go full speed ahead and beging presenting our plans to the borough and County's Planning Board," Barrett said. "We also need approval from NJ Transit and the BPU."

A zoning amendment could be introduced as early as the Dec. 5 Mayor and Council meeting, but would then need to be reviewed by the borough's Planning Board before it could be adopted. 

Once the amendment is adopted, the developer would present a full site plan review to the Planning Board.