Housing units cut in Rte. 35 redevelopment

Board takes issue

with builder’s plan for units, building height

BY JOHN DUNPHY

Staff Writer

The Sayreville Planning Board has recommended a reduced number of housing units in the redevelopment of the Krome nightclub property.

The board discussed density at length during a Nov. 3 meeting after reviewing the draft of a redevelopment plan that was forwarded in September by the Sayreville Economic Redevelop-ment Agency (SERA).

Board members discussed various aspects of the redevelopment expected to take the place of the now empty club and its surrounding areas. Planner John Leoncavallo said the area is designated as a D-3 business zone, and that current plans meet many of the objectives articulated in the borough’s master plan.

Krome shut its doors in September several months ahead of schedule, on the heels of the murder of a Union Township man. Che Broadus, 18, was killed as he was driving away from the club shortly after an altercation that took place there Aug. 29.

For years, many residents in the area as well as local officials have sought a redevelopment of the land due to activities at the nightclub.

The redevelopment plans began to take shape last year when developer Zigga Roshnasky, a partner in Continental Properties, presented a proposal to build senior housing and a marina on the site. The developer has a contract to purchase the Krome property from its owner, the Beninato family, upon receipt of all necessary development approvals.

Under the developer’s plan, the 29.4-acre site on and around Krome would see 216 age-restricted housing units, but the proposal indicates a potential maximum of 265 units.

Where the 265 units are built, Leoncavallo said, the density would be 9.2 units per acre. At 200 units, the density would be 6.9 per acre, Leoncavallo said.

By comparison, the R-7 residential zone across from Old Spye Road has roughly six units per acre, he added.

Regarding the housing, the building height in the developer’s proposal calls for a maximum of 55 feet, while the marine waterfront zone calls for 50 feet.

From the onset of the discussion, Planning Board members expressed a concern with the number of units proposed, taking into account state-required buffer zones, wetlands and a pipeline that runs through the area.

“So, basically we’re not talking about 30 acres. We’re talking about 10 acres of buildable land,” board member Frank Bella said at last week’s meeting.

Borough Engineer Jay Cornell pointed out a slope in the land that would actually make the housing seem smaller when viewed from Route 35.

Following a lengthy discussion about whether the area can handle that many units, and citing traffic along Route 35 as a major concern, the board ultimately agreed to recommend an altered plan. The developer will have to consider the changes and determine whether to accept them or come back again before the board.

The board’s final plan calls for 140 units and stipulates the density cannot exceed five units per acre. At various points in the meeting, that number went as low as four units but did not go any higher than six.

Council President Thomas Pollando, who also sits on the Planning Board, said the board is looking to keep the amount of units on the site low.

“[The developer] knows we’re looking at lower numbers,” he said. “At this time, there’s nothing in the works regarding highway expansion.”

Pollando also noted the state Department of Transportation was not currently considering updating the drawbridge that runs over the Cheesequake Creek, which would allow for a higher volume of traffic in the area, which several board members said already has a heavy volume.

“We’re going to try to keep it as low as possible,” Pollando said. “[The potential] 265 [units] verses 140 is a major difference.”

Pollando said he does not see the Planning Board being very flexible with the numbers, if the developer opts to return seeking more units.

Ultimately, the redevelopment plan will go to Mayor Kennedy O’Brien and the Borough Council, who can then elect to request a lower or higher number of units.

With a currently booked schedule, Pollando said he would not expect the Planning Board to look at the plans until January 2005 at the earliest.

“If they come back, we’ll take a look at it,” he said. “[But] it is not going to be 265 houses, no way.”

In addition to the senior housing units, the Krome site will see an additional 6,600 square feet allotted for retail and office space under the developer’s plan. There would also be a 50-slip marina for the exclusive use of residents of the complex. This would be connected to the complex by a riverwalk.