Kinderkamack Road Housing Development Approved

With changes to the location of three refuge bins onsite and an offer to complete the remaining 200 feet of Kinderkamack Road streetscape, the Now Atkins LLC project for a  at 230 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge received the borough's Planning Board approval.

"We've worked diligently to come up with a solution to the problem of the refuge bins and believe we've reached one," project attorney Thomas Barrett said.

According to Barrett, the three refuge bins would be moved closer to each of the buildings and be surrounded by a wooden enclosure. Each enclosure would measure approximately six feet high.

"By having the three areas instead of the original two, it will reduce the amount of trach that could be placed into the bins at the rear of the property," Barrett added. "Also by placing them closer to the buildings, the buildings themselves would shield the bins from any air carrying the odor to the neighbors."

The  calls for 46 two-bath, two-bedroom units, split between three buildings and measuring 1100-square foot. Two of the buildings would face Kinderkamack Road, while the third abutts the nearby railroad tracks and backyards of residents on Elizabeth Street. Each building is expected to measure 39 1/2 feet. Parking on site will be handled by 92 parking spaces.

Additional drainage has been included for a three-tier retention basin system. Due to the sloping of the property, with an elevation of 35-feet at Kinderkamack Road down to 14-feet by the railroad tracks, water will be piped through the system down to a ditch by the railroad tracks. Underground water will be collected in the retention basins and slowly moved through the sewer system over to Coles Brook and the Hackensack River.

To install the drainage system though, the developer will first have to access an easement along the rear of two properties on Elizabeth Street.

"In addition, improvements will be made to the borough owned easement and to the neighbors property if they wish," Barrett said. "We'll replace their driveway with brick pavers, relocate or replace any trees along the easement, and relocate or erect a new fence along their property line."

According to Barrett, the developer is also willing to complete the borough's streetscape along the front of his property 200 feet south towards Main Street. New sidewalk, decorative street lights, brick pavers and tree wells would be installed along Kinderkamack Road.

Extensive landscaping will be implemented by planting a mix of 10-12 foot evergreen trees along the property lines to shield the neighbors property from the development.

"I see this as a complex and aggressive proposal," Planning Board member James Arakelian said. "Under normal circumstances I liked what the board approved a few years ago for the age-restricted housing but with that being said my personal opinion is that we need to look toward responsible development. Seeing how the developer has worked with the neighbors and added additional streetscape shows they are dedicated to a good solid development in River Edge."

"This was not a plan rushed through," Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo said. "It has been vetted by experts such as the borough engineer and planner along with the Fire Department, Police Department, Ambulance and Shade Tree. The builder has challenges ahead with the site itself, the drainage discusses is a formidable task, but once its completed I think it will look very nice."

The housing development was approved 8-0 with Vito Acquafredda and Neil Doornheim abstaining from the vote. Both Edward Lane and Peter Theisz were absent.