Density An Issue For 'Lofts At Lacey' Complex, Board Says

LACEY, NJ — A proposed 270-unit condominium complex may be too dense for Lacey Township, the Planning Board said at a recent meeting.

The Lofts at Lacey complex will have nine three-story residential buildings. The developers, M&T at Lacey, LLC, were seeking final approval on the residential application. There will also be a commercial portion, however, that final application was not ready as of the meeting. This consists of a 5,496 square foot convenience store and gas station, as well as a 15,424 square foot retail building.

On the property will also be a clubhouse, pool and pool cabana and a tot lot. The development is planned for Route 9, Laurel Boulevard and Railroad Avenue North in Lanoka Harbor. It would be to the south of the CVS and behind Kearny Bank.

This application has existed in various forms over the past 20 years, with the most recent updates made in 2017. The 270 units will sit on 28.3 acres of land, which the Planning Board expressed concerns would be too dense.

Lacey zoning laws allow ten units per acre. However, as representatives of the developer said "about five and change" of the acreage would be for the retail portion, this may be too dense, as members were not sure if legally the commercial acreage could count towards the residential acreage, board members said.

Because the law did not say whether this was permitted or not permitted, members were unsure if the density would apply.

"It seems like you're double dipping," Planning Board member Christopher Reid said of using the commercial acreage to count towards residential.

The board's attorney, Terry Brady, said that he does not believe that commercial acreage can be used for residential under Lacey's laws.

Mayor Mark Dykoff said he would play devil's advocate and suggested that if that were how it would be decided, the developer would eliminate the commercial aspect or instead seek variances.

Reid suggested a reduction of units instead of eliminating the commercial aspect, as the prior application had 256 units instead of the now 270. The extra 14 units were repeatedly brought up as the main issue in terms of density.

Other concerns the board brought up were related to emergency vehicle access and extending Railroad Avenue.

Ultimately, a decision was not made as the developer needed to discuss the acreage, and the application was tabled until next month.

Discussions on this application will continue at next month's Planning Board meeting on Sept. 12, held at 6:30 p.m. in the Lacey Township Municipal Building.