FROM THE SUBURBAN NEWS (NJN Publishing)
Thursday, September 28, 2006
By LESLIE MURRAY
CRANFORD -- In their continuing efforts to foster development at "gateway" locations, a group of township officials last week recommended that a section of North Avenue at the eastern edge of downtown be designated as a rehabilitation zone
A subcommittee of the Planning Board made the recommendation in the hope of establishing some planning principles for the area, which spans the southern side of the street from the Riverside Inn to Cervantes of Spain.
The subcommittee meeting, attended by Mayor Dan Aschenbach, Commissioner Bob Puhak, DMC Director Kathleen Miller Prunty, Planning Board Chairwoman Lynda Feder and members of the Planning Board, focused on maximizing the area's potential as a location for restaurants and "niche" businesses that would attract customers.
Earlier this year, a group of Downtown Management Corporation (DMC) and Planning Board members concluded that the section of North Avenue from Centennial Avenue to Orchard Street -- the length of the Special Improvement District -- was ripe for change. The corridor study was commissioned in hopes of finding areas in need of improvement or sections on the verge of turnover, and establishing new guidelines before any major changes are made.
The plan focuses on 10 parcels of land that stretch from the train station to the Rahway River; the largest parcel is actually the municipally-owned parking lot that runs between the buildings and the railway.
Highlights of the proposal, presented by Stan Slachetka of T& M Associates, include traffic-calming measures for the busy intersection of North and Springfield avenues, along with development requirements for the area that encourage multi-story buildings that are not use-specific.
Slachetka and township officials said the area has remained somewhat isolated from the rest of downtown because it is not conducive to pedestrian traffic. While the subcommittee pointed to specific businesses in the area that are thriving, members acknowledged that there are locations thathave not done as well.
The area already has drawn interest from outside companies -- Union Center Bank has an application for the Swan Cleaners site currently before the Zoning Board of Adjustment -- but would benefit from the stricter guidelines provided by designating the area as being in need of rehabilitation, Slachetka told the subcommittee.
Such a designation allows a municipality to draft a redevelopment plan with zoning regulations that are activated when a change of use is proposed; it encourages some uses and building styles while discouraging others, though it does not carry the power of eminent domain.
The study's findings and the recommendations are scheduled to be presented at the Township Committee's Oct. 10 meeting.