Shrewsbury Hearing On Residential Use Change Put Off To March 1

SHREWSBURY, NJ — A hearing on an application for a use variance for a property on Broad Street has been postponed until the March 1 Land Use Board, the borough said Wednesday.

Martelli Development Group, 942 Broad St., is seeking use variance relief, according to the original agenda for the meeting Feb. 1.

You can review documents on the matter here.

The borough posted this update to the public:

"Please take notice that the Martelli Development Group application 942 Broad Street scheduled for this evening at the Land Use Board has been postponed until March 1, 2023. New notices will be sent out by the applicant. All other matters scheduled for this evening will still be heard."

The borough directed those with questions to the Land Use Board secretary at 732-741-4200 ext. 115.

At least one resident of the nearby Thornbrooke active adult community is concerned about the environmental and traffic impact of the proposal, should a use variance be granted.

Resident Mike Nugent said in an email that, should the site be developed for a commercial use, "it will impact New Jersey-regulated freshwater wetlands, the Thornbrooke Senior Living community and potentially the Shrewsbury Historic District downtown." He said he is also concerned about the impact on Mason Field.

According to borough documents, the application for the use variance is part of a "bifurcated" application to "renovate the present dwelling structure for commercial office use."

The borough documents say the project would "construct a 3 1/2-car garage with attic storage space and construct off-street parking for 11 vehicles."

The intended use of the premises is prohibited in the residential R-1A zone, the documents say, "therefore necessitating use variance relief and subsequent site plan approval."