The owner of the blighted property behind the Ellsworth center met before Site Plan Review Advisory Board (SPRAB) for the sixth time, and the November 9 meeting ended in frustration once more. The applicant for the mixed used development, Pereira Investment, owned by north Jersey developer Jacinto Rodrigues, will next head to the Zoning Board without SPRAB’s recommendation.
Despite returning before SPRAB five times with site plan revisions, SPRAB members still sought better improvements. The existing buildings have been unoccupied for more than 20 years.
Pereira seeks to build residential apartments above the existing commercial structure, and attorney Jeffrey Baron said his client is in compliance with building codes. However, township planner John Madden says there is no evidence that the structure can support second story residential construction.
“What is most significant is Jim Yates, the fire marshal, did not ok the site plan for safety reasons,” Madden says.
The applicant is seeking a floor area ratio variance and other minor variances. In addition, the applicant is currently litigating similar variances previously granted to the Ellsworth Center’s mixed-use development. Council approved a $7,500 fund transfer to cover Zoning Board litigation expenses at the November 9 meeting.
