Developer advancing new plan for former Charlie Brown's in Edison
EDISON – A developer is moving forward with plans to build eight duplex buildings for a total of 16 two-bedroom, age-restricted units on the Plainfield Road site of the former Charlie Brown's restaurant.
The application is scheduled to undergo review by the Technical Review Committee during the 7 p.m. June 6 planning board meeting in the Council Chambers at the Edison Municipal Building.
The applicant, Markim Developers, is seeking variances for use, lot area, lot yard setback and maximum lot coverage for the property at 222 Plainfield Road.
But local residents, who oppose multi-family housing on the site, say changing the project which originally called for 23 three-story, three-bedroom townhomes selling for $650,000 each to 16 duplexes is still too dense for the 2-acre golf course-zoned site and is not a good fit with the existing neighborhood of single-family homes.
Residents maintain duplexes are just two-unit townhomes. They had hoped to see single-family homes built on the site next to the Metuchen Golf and Country Club, or a restaurant at the location.
Markim Developers last month received township approval to demolish the former Charlie Brown's to construct the 16 age-restricted housing units.
The duplex plans show a garage, dining room, family room, powder room, kitchen and dinette on the first floor. A main bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom, second bedroom, sitting area, another bathroom and laundry area are planned for the second floor, along with an office area in the attic and a basement.
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The Links at Edison development also calls for 48 parking spaces, with each unit having two spaces, a single-car garage and driveway and 16 spaces in two on-site, eight-space parking lots
In April, Bob Heath Enterprises of Lakewood sold the property at 222 Plainfield Road to The Links At Edison LLC for $2.5 million. The closing was held in May, according to papers residents obtained through an Open Public Records Act request.
In March, Mark Roshanski, president of Markim Developers, announced he was dropping plans to build 23 age-restricted townhomes on the site, a plan neighbors had been fighting. Roshanski vowed to come up with a new plan more aligned with the vision the township and residents have for the site.
Roshanski had previously amended the project to make it age-restricted for those 55 and older after residents raised concerns about traffic and the privacy for existing residents. The property is located near the entrance to Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Woodbrook Elementary School in Edison and St. Joseph High School in Metuchen.
If the Technical Review Committee deems the duplex project complete, it will then go before the Edison Zoning Board of Adjustment. No date has been set for that hearing.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Edison NJ: Developer advancing new plan for former Charlie Brown's
