The 17.23 acres site on the northbound side of Lanes Mill Road near the Lanes Mill Road / Lanes Mill Road intersection in Lakewood is located in the R-20 zone which only permits Single Family Houses on 20,000 sq feet lots. At the very maximum, 35 single family homes can legally fit on this tract, and even less once you include roadways, a drainage system and the 5% open space the Township requires.
In an apparent zeal to add 300 cars to Lanes Mill Road, one of the last remaining empty lots adjacent to the Lakewood / Brick border, as previously reported here on FAA News, back in July 2022, Lakewood Township's Zoning Board saw fit to grant GM Lanes Mill LLC - which is owned by Mordechai Sternstein - a Use Variance to permit up to 74 units on this tract. Engineer Brian Flannery testified that at least 36% of the units (26 units) will be townhomes, 59% of the units (43 units) will be duplexes, and 4% of the units (3 units) will be single family homes. The application also proposed a 4,100 sq foot Shul as well as 2 playgrounds.
All homes were proposed on approximately 10,000 sq feet lots - double the density currently permitted under the Township zoning ordinances - and with a rental apartment in the basement.
Board Member Avraham Naftali rushed up grant his approval, enthusiastically claiming that for the first time in a while, the Board is fortunate enough to approve a development with townhomes which "will actually be affordable for current Lakewood residents instead of only for New Yorkers."
Under Appeal ZB File No. 4221A, the applicant, GM Lanes Mill LLC on Monday night presented their proposed site plan application.
The site plan depicts a total of 74 dwellings; 22 duplexes (44 units), 3 single-family homes, 27 townhomes, a shul, 2 playgrounds, 1 HOA lot, and 1 undeveloped wet lot.
Development is proposed to be constructed according to R-7.5 zoning standards and required numerous variances including from Minimum Lot Area, Minimum Lot width, Minimum Front Yard Setback, Minimum Aggregate Side Yard Setback on many of the lots.
Additionally, the HOA lot is very small and does not comply with any bulk requirements.
Board members expressed substantial hesitations with the site plan, adding that they regret having previously granting a use variance for this project.
Ultimately, the Board halted the proposal, telling the developers to return to the drawing table and get rid of some of the density.
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