More rental housing and retail could be coming to Route 130 in South Jersey
EDGEWATER PARK − A building with apartments and proposed retail on Route 130 South has cleared a zoning hurdle as the last phase of a larger development that includes the Eagle Chase townhomes.
The Edgewater Park Planning Board recently approved several zoning variances sought by developer Route 130 S, LLC, which plans some affordable apartments among the 45 rental units.
One variance allows the developer to build a four-story structure, one more story than allowed by the zoning ordinance.
The other variances allow the apartment building to rise in a commercial zone and to sit closer to Route 130 South than the 60 feet the zoning ordinance requires.
The new phase of the overall development, which includes 136 townhomes and another 24 apartments approved in 2019, now must seek preliminary and final site plan approval from the planning board.
More: Halal burgers and cheesesteaks: Why new Route 130 diner has special menu
Affordable housing for low-income families part of the plan
The new building would include three businesses on a 9,000-square-foot first floor, with the hope of attracting a restaurant. The upper floors would hold 38 market-rate and seven affordable rental units, according to testimony offered by lawyer Allan Ettenson and other professionals the developer hired.
Ettenson said the project would help satisfy the township's requirement to provide its fair share of affordable housing.
This project would be built on about three acres of vacant land along the highway at F. Parsons Boulevard. The site is sandwiched between two auto repair businesses, including a Pep Boys.
The building also will sit in front of Eagle Chase townhomes by South Jersey builder Ryan Homes, which is selling them for a minimum $300,000.
The developer hired Ryan Homes several years ago to build three-story townhome units with garages. Some townhomes are now occupied, but construction is still underway for the early phase of the mixed-use development.
New mixed-use building reflects changing retail market
The new building would replace a 16,000-square-foot retail-only building the planning board had included in its 2019 approval.
The movement toward online shopping since the COVID pandemic has made it more difficult to fill a commercial strip center, the applicant's planner, James Miller, said at a board meeting in April.
"Vacancies in strip centers along the Route 130 corridor are evidence of these trends," Miller added.
He said viable first-floor businesses besides a restaurant could include in-person services such as beauty and and nail salons, barber shops and professional services.
Carol Comegno loves telling stories about South Jersey life, history and military veterans for the Courier Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Have a story to share? Call her at 856-486-2473 or email ccomegno@gannettnj.com.
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: More affordable housing planned for Route 130 site in Edgewater Park
