An undeveloped piece of property off Route 88, Burrsville Road and Jack Martin Boulevard where apartments and retail space is proposed. (Credit: Mapquest)
A long-rumored plan to revive – on a somewhat smaller scale – a plan to develop the triangular plot of land that envelopes a busy Brick intersection has been formally proposed and will be the subject of a hearing before the township’s zoning board.
Kamson Corp., which abandoned a plan to build a hotel at the site, is now proposing 92 rental apartments and additional retail space on the plot, which is located at the intersection of Route 88, Jack Martin Boulevard and Burrsville Road.
The plan calls for three buildings consisting of approximately 48,431 square feet of retail space and 92 total residential apartment units and a fourth building consisting of 5,000 square feet of dedicated retail space along with parking, outdoor plazas, site lighting, landscaping and stormwater management, a filing with the township’s building department said.
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The property consists of approximately 9.39 acres and is the last remaining undeveloped plot in Brick that allows residential apartment development. Mayor John Ducey said the property was rezoned many years ago under a deal with the state. Neither the mayor nor any other public officials have commented on the plan, as any statements could be used in future litigation.
Neighboring residents, on the other hand, came out en masse to a meeting of the planning board when a previous plan was proposed by Kamson for the site. At that time, the apartments were to be built alongside a Marriott hotel and some retail space. Dozens of residents from neighboring streets went to board meetings and said they would face crushing traffic, flooding and other quality-of-life concerns if the land were to be developed. That proposal was abandoned, however, after the owner of a small piece of land on the triangular lot sued, challenging the fact that the planning board, rather than the Zoning Board of Adjustment, was hearing the case.
This time, the venue for the hearing is the zoning board. Kamson is requesting several variances, including a conditional use variance to allow 9-foot width parking spaces where 9.5-foot is usually requires. Another variance will ask for drainage facilities to be located in the property’s front yard abutting Route 88 and Jack Martin Boulevard; Brick’s ordinance normally do not admit drainage infrastructure in a front yard.
In its filing with the township, Kamson said it will construct off-tract improvements, including roadway improvements across the neighboring lot and traffic signal improvements at the intersection of Burrsville Road and Route 88, plus stormwater drainage improvements along Forge Pond Road, if it is determined those improvements are required.
The hearing will be held June 20 and 7 p.m. at the municipal complex on Chambers Bridge Road. Public participation is normally permitted at the end of the proceedings, but before the board votes. If testimony on the application takes longer than one meeting to complete, public comment may be delayed until the final meeting.
