Edison Council Tables Amboy Avenue Zoning Change Ordinance

EDISON, NJ - The Edison Council recently voted to table an ordinance aimed at reducing the height of new construction along Amboy Avenue.

Several members of the council said they were not given enough information about the proposal. The ordinance called for the elimination of four-story buildings. The proposal aimed to reduce the permissible height for mixed-use retail and office buildings.

The maximum height would be reduced from 45 feet/four stories to 30 feet/3.5 stories.

Councilwoman Margot Harris opposed the tabling of the bill.

"I'm upset, I'm angry, I'm disappointed about this," Harris said. Using baseball parlance, Harris said, "I think what the residents of Clara Barton are looking for is to get on base. They have been quite vocal about this. I think that they are happy to start with this if we need to amend this down the road, so be it, but they have spoken loudly and forcefully that they want to get on base. So I am going to reject the tabling."

Councilman John Poyner said the ordinance does not address parking issues, design or setback guidelines according to the master plan.

He proposed a revised ordinance with suggestions he would like to see considered. Poyner asked the ordinance be delayed by a month to get things right, which he feels would not be a detriment to the residents.

The Amboy Avenue Revitalization Plan was passed in 2016 and aims to revitalize the downtown area by creating mixed-use developments.