Letter to the Editor: Questions About South Avenue Settlement

Editor's Note: This piece was written by Cranford resident Lou Koehler regarding the 555 South Avenue East settlement. It has not been edited.

On 9/14 I attended the meeting at which the Township Committee voted 4-1 (Mr. Aschenbach against) not to appeal a 'Builder Remedy' judgment which will allow construction of over 160 rental apartments at 555 South Ave East. The 'Builder's Remedy' lawsuit was filed under COAH (Council on Affordable Housing). 

Over the past several years this development has evolved from a 60 unit 'Over 55' townhouse complex into the current rental apartments.  There was much discussion between the Township Committee as to whom and which previous administration(s) were responsible for allowing this to happen.  My perception is that Township Committees for the past decade were all complicit.

   The main reason cited for not appealing the ruling was the potential cost; several hundred thousand dollars over the next few years, with little hope of winning.

   I would like to make a few comments on the Township Committee's decision:

• Assuming one child per apartment, this complex would add 160 students at an average cost of over $10,000 per student to the school system. How will this affect the school budget when Cranford will be under a 'hard' cap in the coming years?
• The settlement states that the developer will 'work with the town' on the site plan and 'may' even supply jitney service to the train station to alleviate traffic. My understanding is that these rental apartments will not be subject to normal Planning Board review, which could dictate building facades, landscaping, parking spaces, access road widening, etc.  The developer will only be subject to state building codes and is not mandated to comply with town recommendations.
• By not appealing this decision, does Cranford open itself up to other 'Builder Remedy' lawsuits; possibly a rental complex at Birchwood Ave or two/three/four family homes at the former Solomon Schlector school?
• From news reports, the COAH laws are being reviewed and may be modified/phased out by the State Legislature. Should we not have waited several months for the outcome, rather than give in to the developer?

Lou Koehler

17 Burchfield Ave.

Cranford NJ