Township Passes Business-Friendly Legislation

The Township Committee unanimously adopted an ordinance last night which allows business owners making minor changes to their properties to bypass Planning Board scrutiny and go straight to the Zoning Officer for approval.

Applying for a building change through the Planning Board, however minor, can take as much from 3-5 months, Zoning Officer Robert Hudak explained. The ordinance was granted in order to streamline the approval process for businesses.

The privilege of skipping this step is reserved for  owners making very small adjustments.
Hudak listed an example: The owner of an office building that's using 40 percent of the building as warehousing space applies to use 20 percent more of the building for storage.

Township Attorney Carl Woodward gave a similar example during last night's meeting to explain to a resident, Frank Krause, how the process will work. The resident had expressed concern that the amendment might allow unauthorized building additions.

"This is for the situation where a retail ladies' clothing store..moves (out) and a men's clothing store moves in. The zoning requirements are exactly the same," Woodward said. He added that if a business owner wishes to make additions – such as adding on a room to its building or adding pavement to the parking lot – he or she still must go through the Planning Board process.

Hudak added that this amendment was also created to help businesses in the plummeting economic situation.

"It's something we've championed for a while, especially in light of economic conditions, it's something advantageous for businesses," Hudak said.

Cranford Crossing

The Township Committee also unanimously passed an amendment last night which allowed businesses at Cranford Crossing to lease floor space a few feet less than what is detailed in the original redevelopment plan, Hudak explained. The approved space is now about 2,250 square feet.

However the Township Committee began hacking away at the requirement in June. At its June 29 meeting, it passed an amendment which cut the original plan, at 3,400 square feet, down to 2,500 square feet.

The township also amended the use laws at Cranford Crossing in order to allow teaching studios such as karate schools into the complex. Both measures were prompted by the interest of a Tae Kwon Do studio, which is considering a lease in Cranford Crossing.

At the Aug. 17 township meeting, Commissioner Daniel Aschenbach said he continues to support being flexible when it comes to appeasing businesses at the redevelopment site.

"It allows the market to work even better at Cranford Crossing," he said.