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Resident urges council to reject rezoning of former Wells Fargo site; mayor says no borough proposal is pending
Summary
At Red Bank’s Oct. 10 council meeting, resident Dana Stein urged the borough to resist rezoning the 4.1-acre former Wells Fargo parcel for dense townhouse or stacked-flat development, citing scale, traffic and stormwater concerns; Mayor William Portman and staff said no borough-sponsored proposal is before the council and explained the land‑use and variance process.
A resident told the Red Bank Borough Council on Oct. 10 she opposes rezoning the 4.1-acre former Wells Fargo site for townhouses and stacked flats, warning the density would alter neighborhood scale, increase traffic and worsen stormwater run‑off.
"I urge you to think about that as we move forward," said Dana Stein, who identified herself as a Red Bank resident and read a prepared statement to the council, citing potential impacts on parking, neighborhood character and construction‑period disruption.
Mayor William Portman told Stein and others that the borough is not proposing development there. "I'm not interested in town homes there. I don't think it fits," Portman said, adding that a private purchaser can propose a project but must clear significant hurdles before land‑use boards.
Staff and council members explained the review path: property owners may consult the planning and zoning staff and, if a proposed use requires variances or a change in the master plan, the matter would go before the borough's land‑use boards. Council members noted that the former Wells Fargo parcel would likely need substantial variances for the uses described publicly.
Stein told the council she was concerned about loss of green space and increased impervious surface that could worsen flooding and degrade local air and water quality during construction. She also flagged long‑term concerns about parking demand and potential downward pressure on nearby home values.
Council members responded by urging residents to engage early with planning staff and clarifying that the council itself has not received a formal application. Planning staff said the property’s current zoning would require major variances for the uses Stein and other commenters have discussed in public postings.
The council did not take action on zoning at the meeting. The mayor and staff said residents with immediate maintenance or safety concerns about the parcel should contact code enforcement, which the mayor said had recently reached out to the property owner about overgrowth.
