Mayor: Church Eyed Triboro Site

Since it was demolished this spring, news surrounding plans for the former Triboro site on Route 130 have been scant.

During Monday’s township committee meeting, Mayor Ben Young revealed a church had taken a “hard look” at the former auto dealership—which closed down about five years ago—though nothing came of it.

The church would likely not have been permitted anyway, due to a township code which restricts religious institutions to residential zones. An ordinance passed by committee Monday—which amended a section of the township code book to apply certain redevelopment standards to the Commercial, Business Development and Highway Commercial districts in town—further affirmed a pre-existing code restricting religious institutions to residential zones.

Solicitor John Gillespie explained the code is intended to preserve valuable ratable space for entities that pay taxes, which churches and other religious institutions do not.

"You don't want to take up commercial ratable space with a church," Gillespie said.  

Young said he did not have any further information regarding development of the Triboro site.

Kerrim C. Jivani, a Monmouth County-based developer, bought the property from Chrysler Group Realty Company and presented a rough sketch of his plans for it last fall.