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Residents press Cranford committee on zoning of a tiny lot, sidewalk/ADA delays and downtown parking access
Summary
Multiple residents used the Dec. 3 public-comment period to press officials about a 2,540 sq ft lot deemed buildable without planning-board review, delayed ADA sidewalk upgrades at Eastman Plaza, inconsistent holiday parking-bag handling, and reduced daytime access to the township building. Officials said sidewalk funds are being rolled into a broader streetscape project and building-access restrictions followed a security threat.
During public comment on Dec. 3, 2024, residents raised several recurring concerns for the Cranford Township Committee, including an apparently undersized lot declared buildable by the zoning officer, long-delayed sidewalk/ADA improvements, inconsistent holiday parking-bag practices and locked municipal entrances that limit daytime public access.
Zoning and a 2,540 sq ft lot: An unidentified resident said a parcel at roughly 944 Orange Avenue (described in comments as 2,540 square feet) was treated as "buildable by right" despite town zoning that typically requires 8,000-square-foot lots. The commenter cited assessor values, prior sales and the town’s schedule in ordinance 244 (attachment C) and urged the township to review whether the lot should have been referred to the planning or zoning board. Mayor Andrews said she would "punt" on that item because she had missed a prior rare meeting when it was discussed but assured the resident that the committee takes zoning laws seriously.
Sidewalks and ADA access: Jim Gelson urged the township to act on long-promised work near Eastman Plaza that he said has safety and accessibility implications for people using wheelchairs and strollers. Gelson stated county matching funds had been set aside (he recalled $3.5 million) and asked what happened to the project. Mayor Andrews replied the project funds are being folded into a larger downtown streetscape project to avoid repetitive disruption to nearby businesses and that the township intends to move forward with that larger plan in 2025.
Holiday parking meter bags and downtown business support: Gelson and Commissioner Miller Prunty discussed the seasonal free-parking program; Prunty told attendees the DMC (Downtown Management Corporation) places and removes the parking bags and the committee planned a resolution to authorize free parking from Dec. 14 through Dec. 24. Gelson expressed concern that bags had been removed unexpectedly on a Monday during a busy shopping period.
Township building access and restrooms: Gelson and others complained that front entrances remain locked and public restrooms were designated "employees only" after changes that began during COVID. Mayor Andrews said doors were closed after a security threat and that decision followed consultation with public-safety professionals; Business Administrator Lavona Patterson added that lower-level flooding and French-drain repairs will be addressed and ADA compliance for restrooms is planned during renovations.
Enforcement and town services: Another resident, Jim Carvalho, raised concerns about inconsistent enforcement of vehicle window-tinting laws and alleged that the township’s leaf-collection fines were not being issued because the DPW lacks authority to levy them; he called for clearer enforcement.
Officials’ response and next steps: Committee members acknowledged the concerns. They said sidewalk money remains allocated and will be incorporated into the broader streetscape plan; the DMC manages parking-bag placement; building-access changes respond to security advice; and renovations to address flooding and accessibility are planned. The committee offered to follow up on zoning questions raised for the undersized lot.
What happens next: Officials said they will continue planning the downtown streetscape in 2025 and will follow up on zoning-process questions for the disputed parcel. Residents seeking detailed procurement, enforcement or planning records should request them through the township clerk.
