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Auburndale neighbors oppose commercial overlay change at 189–18901 Northern Boulevard
Summary
An applicant sought to add a commercial overlay and permit a modest three‑story mixed‑use building at 189–18901 Northern Boulevard; local civic leaders opposed the map change, saying it could permit as‑of‑right redevelopment without public review and that the lot historically was poorly maintained.
Richard Lobel presented an application to map a C2‑4 commercial overlay at 189–18901 Northern Boulevard to legalize existing commercial uses and allow a three‑story plus cellar mixed‑use building of roughly 14,800 square feet with ground‑floor retail, second‑floor office and third‑floor community facility space.
The applicant said the proposed rezoning mainly formalizes existing commercial frontage along a wide commercial corridor and includes sustainability measures such as EV chargers, green roof and solar. Lobel noted the proposal adds a commercial overlay to several lots and that similar commercial overlays exist nearby.
The Auburndale Improvement Association, represented by its president Henry Euler, opposed the rezoning. Euler said the map change could permit substantial building as‑of‑right without public review and noted the lot had been in poor condition for years before the applicant cleaned it up. "We would much prefer to have this go through a zoning variance procedure at the Board of Standards and Appeals," Euler said, and he left petitions and materials for the borough president's office.
The applicant said it is open to further discussion with neighbors; the borough president’s office closed public testimony on the item.
