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Edison board approves amended 4‑story age‑restricted project at 39 Thomas with conditions after extended public comment
Summary
The Planning Board approved an amended, four‑story, age‑restricted development at 39 Thomas that adds an adjoining former gas‑station lot for surface parking, raises units from 48 to 51 and increases parking to 90; approval requires deed consolidation, compliance with affordable‑housing rules and professionals’ review letters.
The Edison Planning Board voted July 13 to approve an amended preliminary and final site plan from Yash Raj Realty LLC for a four‑story, age‑restricted residence at 39 Thomas, incorporating an adjacent former gas station lot at 1371 Route 1. Attorney Tim Arch said the amendment adds surface parking and circulation improvements, eliminates a previously approved subterranean parking deck and increases units from 48 to 51.
Engineer and planner John P. DuPont told the board the revised plan provides 90 parking spaces (51 under the building, 39 on the acquired lot), improves circulation for emergency and service vehicles and adds landscaping, lighting and minor grading adjustments. DuPont and counsel said the adjacent gas‑station parcel had previously undergone NJDEP remediation and carries a deed restriction (limiting certain uses) but is suitable as capped surface parking; the monitoring wells were no longer required per DEP documentation submitted during redevelopment.
Architect Satyan Rawal described façade materials, parapet screening for rooftop units, barrier‑free entries and a ground‑floor community room. The applicant agreed to correct the number of make‑ready EV spaces and ADA parking shown in the plan to match state and ordinance requirements and to carry forward conditions from the prior approval, including a shuttle commitment.
The meeting featured extensive public comment: multiple residents described narrow local streets (Maplewood, John Street and Elmwood), reported existing overflow parking and safety concerns for emergency vehicles and questioned whether added residences would worsen traffic, noise, sewer loads and neighborhood character. Residents who opposed the project included Deborah Fulton, Albert Moda, Patricia Sisolak and Jan Casemar; speakers voiced particular concern about enforcement of existing parking and zoning rules and the adequacy of proposed landscaping buffers. A smaller set of neighbors said redevelopment would be an improvement over vacant, blighted lots.
Board members acknowledged neighborhood concerns but noted the redevelopment plan and a prior 2023 approval set the regulatory framework for this site. Vice Chair Reeder moved to approve the amended application subject to conditions that the applicant record a deed consolidating the two lots with the county, comply with UHAC/Counsel/affordable‑housing agent requirements for set‑asides and bedroom distribution, satisfy board professionals’ review letters and carry forward any conditions from the original resolution. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call.
The board’s approval resolves certain technical deviations after the planned lot consolidation; the board recorded conditions intended to ensure EV and ADA counts, affordable‑housing calculations and documentation of DEP remediation and deed restrictions are finalized before the project advances.
