Lofts Proposed in Red Bank
Developer delays bid to allow public views
Lofts proposed in Red Bank
Published in the Asbury Park Press 09/2/05BY Larry Higgs COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
RED BANK — A developer asked borough officials to postpone his controversial application Thursday night so residents who are out of town for the Labor Day holiday have a chance to comment on it.
Developers of the proposed West Side Lofts mix of apartments, art studios and stores originally were scheduled for an Oct. 6 meeting, but when another applicant canceled out of Thursday's meeting, it was offered to developers MW Red Bank LLC, said Laura Nicosa, Board of Adjustment chairwoman.
Instead of picking up where the board and developer left off in August, attorney Steve Santola did the unexpected and asked the board to put off the application for a month.
"I'm certain, as an attorney, we have every legal right to be here, but some members of the public felt we shouldn't proceed," Santola told the board. "We want the application heard on the merits. We ask to you to carry it."
Residents who came out said they were surprised but pleased at the sudden move.
"I think the zoning board's been fair," said west side resident Grace Cangemi. "I was surprised about the change to the date, but I'm glad the board adjourned it."
Cangemi said she received a call about the meeting and added a lot of west side residents weren't aware of it.
"We just feel the community input is important on this project," said Christopher Cole, principal, said after the meeting. "There were concerns by several residents that they wouldn't be around and felt it should be carried to Oct. 6."
Nicosa said the meeting was properly advertised, and notices were mailed to nearby property owners.
"That was extremely gracious," Nicosa said of the postponement.
Santola admitted that is was an unusual step for an applicant to take.
"Our position is that the application is important and unique and fits in to the arts and antiques district," he said. "We want as many (people) who want to ask questions to come out."
The West Side Lofts proposal would create a 1.8-acre complex with 110 residential units, a garden courtyard, live-in and work-at art studios, 27,721 square feet of retail space and a 238-spot parking garage on a site bordered by West Front Street, Bridge Avenue and Edmund Wilson Boulevard. The applicants are MW Red Bank LLC, a project of Metrovation in Red Bank and Woodmont Properties in Parsippany.
"It's nice what they did," resident Steve Goulart said. "They could have run it as a stealth meeting. There is a lot of interest in this proposal."
Goulart said he was notified about the meeting last night by the project's principals.
Zoning officials and applicants said a vote could not have been taken Thursday night. Both estimated the hearings are about 75 percent completed on use variances.
If a hearing had been held last night, it would have included replies to questions from prior meetings, Santola said. That would have included what could be built on the site and the number of parking spaces under existing zoning, he said.
"We hope to have a vote to approve (the application) on Oct. 6," Santola said.
Lofts proposed in Red Bank
Published in the Asbury Park Press 09/2/05BY Larry Higgs COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
RED BANK — A developer asked borough officials to postpone his controversial application Thursday night so residents who are out of town for the Labor Day holiday have a chance to comment on it.
Developers of the proposed West Side Lofts mix of apartments, art studios and stores originally were scheduled for an Oct. 6 meeting, but when another applicant canceled out of Thursday's meeting, it was offered to developers MW Red Bank LLC, said Laura Nicosa, Board of Adjustment chairwoman.
Instead of picking up where the board and developer left off in August, attorney Steve Santola did the unexpected and asked the board to put off the application for a month.
"I'm certain, as an attorney, we have every legal right to be here, but some members of the public felt we shouldn't proceed," Santola told the board. "We want the application heard on the merits. We ask to you to carry it."
Residents who came out said they were surprised but pleased at the sudden move.
"I think the zoning board's been fair," said west side resident Grace Cangemi. "I was surprised about the change to the date, but I'm glad the board adjourned it."
Cangemi said she received a call about the meeting and added a lot of west side residents weren't aware of it.
"We just feel the community input is important on this project," said Christopher Cole, principal, said after the meeting. "There were concerns by several residents that they wouldn't be around and felt it should be carried to Oct. 6."
Nicosa said the meeting was properly advertised, and notices were mailed to nearby property owners.
"That was extremely gracious," Nicosa said of the postponement.
Santola admitted that is was an unusual step for an applicant to take.
"Our position is that the application is important and unique and fits in to the arts and antiques district," he said. "We want as many (people) who want to ask questions to come out."
The West Side Lofts proposal would create a 1.8-acre complex with 110 residential units, a garden courtyard, live-in and work-at art studios, 27,721 square feet of retail space and a 238-spot parking garage on a site bordered by West Front Street, Bridge Avenue and Edmund Wilson Boulevard. The applicants are MW Red Bank LLC, a project of Metrovation in Red Bank and Woodmont Properties in Parsippany.
"It's nice what they did," resident Steve Goulart said. "They could have run it as a stealth meeting. There is a lot of interest in this proposal."
Goulart said he was notified about the meeting last night by the project's principals.
Zoning officials and applicants said a vote could not have been taken Thursday night. Both estimated the hearings are about 75 percent completed on use variances.
If a hearing had been held last night, it would have included replies to questions from prior meetings, Santola said. That would have included what could be built on the site and the number of parking spaces under existing zoning, he said.
"We hope to have a vote to approve (the application) on Oct. 6," Santola said.
posted by Danielle Seals at 1:12 PM
<< Home