Brief: Township Committee Will Vote on Controversial Fourth Floor Ordinance

The Cranford Township Committee will hold their regular meeting tonight at 8:00 p.m. to vote on the fourth amendment to the Riverfront Redevelopment Project. Ordinance 2011-18, , would allow Garden Homes Development to add 19 more apartment units to the development area on South Avenue. Many residents are worried that the building construction will have a negative impact on both the downtown integrity and the taxpayer's wallets. 

The Riverfront Redevelopment Plan envisions the construction of three  buildings on the 3.5 acre lot on South Avenue. Each building would house both retail and residential units. The amendment recommends adding an additional floor to the proposed building at the intersection of Chestnut Street and High Street. The 19 apartment units on the extra floor would be used for residential purposes, and the building would also include a potential restaurant and banquet hall. The Town Planning Board recommended the approval of the ordinance in a 5-4 vote at their last meeting. Some Board Members feared the construction of the fourth floor would compromise the character of downtown Cranford, while others believed it would serve the community at large.

"The Master Plan seeks increased vitality and development in the downtown," Town Planner Victor Furmanec said at the Planning Board meeting. "It also seeks to encourage development both residential and commercial downtown. The state is looking to encourage development in and around train stations, in order to encourage the use of mass transportation. This additional floor enhances those goals of increasing immediate size of the market area, customer base, and usage."

The Township Committee will discuss and vote on the ordinance tonight.