Zoning Board denies Westside Ave. project
Scaled-down plan fails to gain board approval

RED BANK - Despite being downsized, a residential development proposed for the borough's west side failed to gain the approval of the Zoning Board of Adjustment last week.

The Zoning Board held its final public hearing May 3 regarding the proposed project on West Westside Avenue, which had undergone significant changes since it was first submitted in June 2005.

Originally, the proposal called for four townhouses on two lots at 129 W. Westside Ave.

After neighbors objected, the proposal was pared down to a single-family home and a two-family building.

Project engineer Elizabeth Waterbury explained in a Dec. 8 letter to the Zoning Board office that applicant Marc Singer revised the plan to address comments from the public, the board and the board engineer.

"As a result, the plan has been revised to subdivide the lot to create a single-family lot and a lot for a two-family structure," she stated.

Borough Engineer Richard Kosenski summarized other changes to the plan, mainly related to meeting frontage and access requirements.

The project site, just under 18,000 square feet with an existing single-family home, is at the end of West Westside Avenue. The proposal for the roadway had undergone several changes, including a cul-de-sac and a turnaround.

Singer, Lakewood, had submitted two additional versions of the plan this year with these changes.

The board requested public comment because a new plan had been submitted.

Speaking at the meeting, one of the residents of the adjoining lot, Patricia Whyte, said, "My … predominant feeling is that I could accept the two-family house. [It wouldn't be] too imposing, but the third house crowds us. I don't like it. It's too much for the neighborhood and it's too much for us."

Singer's attorney, Martin McGann, said to Whyte, "It appears you don't want a house next to you. Is that true?"

Whyte said she didn't want a house in addition to the two-family dwelling, citing increased energy bills because the third house would block light to her home, and quality of life issues.

McGann pointed out that there is no law entitling one to a view.

Whyte responded, "Too much money was paid for this land, and they want to make it back. The Zoning Board is here to judge the intangibles. Does [this proposal] contribute to the neighborhood or is it just to maximize profits?"

Zoning Board member Thomas Williams reminded McGann that he had suggested a 'step-down house,' a smaller structure which could be affordable housing, which, he said, "might have addressed the Whytes' concerns."

McGann explained that a certain square footage was necessary to achieve marketability.

Whyte asked if it was possible to build only the two-family structure. McGann replied, "We're not squeezing," noting that the proposal did not require a density variance.

Board members Kathleen Horgan and Sam Balacco both voiced opposition, citing the plan's poor match to the rest of the neighborhood. When a vote was taken, the board voted unanimously to deny the application.

Singer said afterward that he was not sure if he would reapply.