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Edison council approves vacation of portion of Thomas Place despite neighborhood objections
Summary
After a public hearing in which residents warned of added traffic, parking strain and changes to neighborhood character, the Edison Township Council adopted an ordinance vacating part of Thomas Place to enable future redevelopment and resolve site access issues. The vote was recorded as affirmative by roll call.
The Edison Township Council on March 25 adopted an ordinance authorizing the vacation of a portion of Thomas Place to allow a redevelopment plan to address site access issues, a move that residents said risks worsening traffic and changing neighborhood character.
At the outset the clerk read the ordinance as "An ordinance of the township of Edison authorizing the vacation of a certain portion of Thomas Place pursuant to NJSA 40:67‑1." Township counsel told the council the vacation would remove the dedication of that segment of roadway so ownership would revert to adjoining properties but noted that utilities and legal setbacks remain in place and that any redevelopment still must secure planning‑board approvals and variances.
Residents who spoke at the public hearing repeatedly urged the council to delay or reject the action. "Our neighborhood is wedged between high‑traffic areas," said Patty Sisolak of Elmwood Avenue, who warned that a proposed 66‑unit project would add "around a 132 extra cars" and create daily bottlenecks that could impede emergency access. Elizabeth Conway, who said she drove to inspect the site, argued the block is largely single‑family and that "adding a four‑story building to that small area just goes against the grain." Other speakers raised parking, safety and notice concerns.
Council members responded that vacating the right‑of‑way is intended to address access and circulation problems so a redeveloper can design a workable site plan that will then be subject to the planning board's public review. "By vacating, the planning board can review the application and those issues that everyone has brought up tonight can be addressed," a council member said during deliberations.
A motion to adopt the ordinance was moved and seconded and the clerk conducted a roll call; the measure was approved with roll call responses recorded as affirmative. Council members said the vacation does not itself authorize any specific building permit: separate planning‑board hearings and zoning approvals will be required for any proposed development, including traffic and parking studies.
The council also encouraged residents to engage with the planning process and said staff would be available to share updates as applications are filed. The ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the planning board will handle subsequent applications and public hearings on any redevelopment proposals.
