Controversial 'Arches At Sewaren' Approved By Woodbridge Zoning Board

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — At their meeting Thursday night, the Woodbridge Zoning Board approved the "Arches at Sewaren," in a 5-2 vote.

This means the Arches will move forward. Sandra Vanorden is a lifelong resident of Sewaren who is against the project. She said Friday morning she and a group of neighbors plan to file a legal appeal to stop the project from proceeding.

These are the new apartments proposed for West Avenue in Sewaren, which the Woodbridge Zoning Board actually rejected last year.

The Arches at Sewaren will be located at lots 551, 555 and 561 of West Avenue. It will consist of two white two-and-a-half-story buildings with black shutters; it will have a Victorian look and feel. See a rendering of how the apartment buildings will look.

In November, the Zoning Board rejected the developer's proposal. Board members did not give a specific reason, but the general feeling was the proposal did not fit in with the look and feel of that neighborhood, which is a historic section of Woodbridge. Several homes on that street are in the town's historic registry.

This March, the Arches reapplied before the Board. They sought multiple variances, including to build multi-family in a single-family residential zone.

On Thursday night, they were approved for those variances.

"We filled the room (Thursday night), did our research — and our concerns and evidence fell upon deaf ears," said Vanorden Friday morning. "As stated by the Township's Single-Family Residential Zone bylaws, the purpose of the R-15 Residential Zone is to protect the character of existing larger lots, especially along Cliff Road and West Avenue. Apparently, the Township is not abiding by the rules they've set ... Essentially, there is no need for a Zoning Board or a Historical Commission if they aren't valid. What is their purpose? They're just sucking up our taxes."

These will be apartments, not single-family homes like most of the other properties on that block. The two buildings will have 27 apartment units total, plus a community room.

There will also be a parking lot for 56 cars built in the back. There is currently a dilapidated old home on those lots (pictured above), originally called "The Arches," and it was also the site of the original Sewaren library. That old home will be torn down and many trees will also have to be torn down as well, particularly to build the parking lot.

There is already the existing Ivy Apartments located on West Avenue next door.

The principal investor and owner of Arches at Sewaren, LLC, is Thomas J. Fallon of Manalapan. The architect is Michael Testa of Manalapan.

"Their plan has two buildings on one lot and is not in conformity with the development standards for this zone," continued Vanorden. "The developer truly hasn't considered its responsibility to its neighbors and their properties."

Patch reporting on the Arches at Sewaren: New 27-Unit Apartment Complex Back On Table For Sewaren (March 8)

Application For Sewaren Apartments Rejected By Woodbridge Zoning Board (Nov. 2022)