RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS APPROVED ON LAKEWOOD'S ROUTE 70

Lakewood Township's zoning ordinances conditionally permit mixed and multi-family housing along the Route 70 corridor near the Garden State Parkway ramps, but only if you have 20 acres of land for the project.

On Monday night, the Zoning Board unanimously granted Conditional Use Variance relief to permit multi-family housing on only 4.429 acres of land at 1000 Route 70.

The application, ZB 4346, which a submitted by 1000 Route 70 KV, LLC, proposes to redevelop the existing commercial shopping strip with two 1-story commercial buildings, four 3-story residential apartment buildings, a playground and a dog park.

Apartment Buildings A, B, and C propose 9 apartment units each, and Building D proposes 6 units.

Attorney Adam Pfeffer told the Board that the project proposes no more than 2 bedrooms in each apartment, and that while there will be minimum age restriction, the site's proximity to the Parkway will appeal more to older residents who will drive out of town directly onto the Parkway.

The Board's approval is only for the conditional use variance. The applicant will still need to return for site plan approval. The Board stipulated that this approval is not for any specific number of apartments or parking spaces as that will be decided based on the future site plan.

That being said, the bifurcated use variance plan depicts 82 parking spaces for the residential use and 110 parking spaces for the commercial space. The proposed commercial buildings, parking and amenities would be located towards the front of the property, An evergreen buffer is depicted between the rear of the Commercial parking and loading areas, and proposed apartment buildings. An evergreen buffer is depicted along the southerly property line (between the rear of the apartment building and Leisure Village Association property). 

Aaron Hirsch spoke up in opposition to the project, stating that Route 70 has suffered too many pedestrian crashes including deaths so this site is not appropriate for a residential neighborhood with a playground.

The Board thanked him for his comments and approved the application.

As previously reported here on FAA News, 1000 Route 70 KV LLC, which appears to be registered to Maurice Rosenberg and Joseph Kaufman, purchased the property in November 2023 for $4.4 million.

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