Developer unveils new plan for former Charlie Brown's in Edison. Here's what residents say
EDISON – Neighborhood residents aren't happy with the new plans to build eight age-restricted duplexes on the site of the former Charlie Brown's restaurant on Plainfield Road
Residents learned about the duplex project, which would have 16 units in two-story buildings, a little more than a month after Markim Developers announced it was dropping plans to build 23 age-restricted townhomes on the site, a project neighborhood residents had vehemently opposed.
At that March announcement, Mark Roshanski, president of Markim Developers, said the company would propose a new plan consistent with the vision of the mayor and local residents. Roshanski said his new plan would be a good fit with the existing neighborhood.
But residents disagree.
"We believe duplexes are just two-unit townhomes," said Nick Fagan, who lives on nearby Edgewood Road. "We believe there is no change from the previous plan. We believe single-family homes is what the neighborhood would prefer."
He said the 2-acre property, located next to the Metuchen Golf and Country Club, is adjacent to a neighborhood of single-family homes.
"There is no multi-family within a mile and a half of this property," said Fagan. "We still believe it's an overdevelopment of the property, and the developer could change the duplexes from eight duplexes at $750,000 a piece to eight homes at $1.5 million apiece. We would rather have single-family homes."
He also questioned if the duplexes would be attractive.
Residents obtained the site plan through an Open Public Records Act request to the Middlesex County Planning Board.
Markim Developers signed a contract on March 2 to buy the property from Bob Heath Enterprises of Lakewood. No purchase price was included in the document filed with the Middlesex County Clerk's Office.
The plan for The Links at Edison at 222 Plainfield Road called for the removal of the restaurant building and parking area for the construction of 16 age-restricted duplex units with public sewer and water service for each unit.
Earlier: Developer cancels plans for townhouses on Edison's Charlie Brown's site
Fagan said the restaurant's liquor license was sold for $550,000 to a go-kart racing facility planned for near Topgolf on Route 1. He said many residents had hoped to see a restaurant return to the site.
The duplex project is expected to go before the Edison Technical Review Committee and, if deemed complete, it would then go before the Edison Zoning Board of Adjustment. No date has been set for the application to be heard.
For months residents had fought plans to build 23, three-story, three bedroom 2,300-square-foot townhouses on the site which were slated for sale at $650,000 each.
The project was amended last year to make the units age-restricted for those 55 and older, after previous meetings about the project raised concern about traffic and privacy for existing residents.
The property is located near the entrance to Woodrow Wilson Middle School, Woodbrook Elementary School in Edison and St. Joseph High School in Metuchen.
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 unveils new plan for Charlie Brown's restaurant
