Update on Parsippany Road Development Decision
Posted in: Development, View All Entries by admin on June 7, 2011
Yesterday, Monday, June 6th the Planning Board convened to deliberate and make a recommendation related to the proposed six story apartment building for 272 Parsippany Road. This is the property located between the Board of Education Building (the old library) and the Wells Fargo Bank.
Background
The developer Cerbone-Prisco approached the Council on January 11th, 2011 and received unanimous approval to change this 1.2 acre of property to a “Zone of Rehabilitation.” According to the Planning Board Attorney, this type of designation is usually used to zone larger areas (i.e. a whole block or a whole street) as in need of rehabilitation. So the Council’s approval of this one small area is unique. The Planning Board met twice before yesterday’s June 6th meeting to discuss the project, hear testimony from the developer, Town Planner, and the public.
The Decision
The Planning Board voted to deny the current request as originally outlined — based on a number of factors including height, traffic concerns, density, and inadequate parking. Instead of the original six-story request, the Planning Board instead voted unanimously to allow a three story building with one level of underground parking below. The Board also voted to allow a density off 24 units per acre (or a total of 30 units on the property) — a figure comparable to the garden apartments (Colonial Heights) that are located just behind the 272 Parsippany Road property.
Next Steps
The Planning Board will convene once more to discuss this specific recommendation on Monday, June 20th at 7:30pm. Although the decision has already been voted upon, the Board will discuss the “finer points” of the request — specifically the amount of setback (the distance between the road to the front of the property) as well as the type of businesses allowed in the mixed use property. The developer had proposed a bank, but in the case that this bank does not succeed or another type of business rents/buys the property, there are multiple concerns including insufficient parking for a different type of business. Following this meeting, the Township Council will make a final decision as to how the developer may use the property. This may differ from the Planning Board’s recommendation.
Our Take
There was no reason for the Township Council to designate this small area as in “Need of Rehabilitation” this past January. The vote was unanimous with little discussion about the consequences of this type of decision, nor the precedent it would set for other properties in Parsippany. In fact, it seems as though they didn’t even know what impact their vote would have at all based on comments from Council DiPierro made at yesterday’s meeting. From the get-go the Council should have voted NO and allowed this type of project to go through the normal zoning process.
- Do you have questions about this process related to the 272 Parsippany Road property? If so, we’re happy to help or find someone who can provide more information. Just contact us with your comments and questions!
- Click here to be directed to the Parsippany Patch article about yesterday’s Planning Board Meeting