In an effort to establish more development within the township, the North Bergen Board of Commissioners has officially requested that the township’s Planning Board make changes and adjustments to existing master plans and variances as soon as possible. According to a resolution approved by the commissioners at the last regular meeting, the Planning Board is being asked to make adjustments in the zoning ordinances “no later than April 12.” The first area in question – the northern end of River Road, on the border of Edgewater and Cliffside Park – has been zoned for residential use, but there doesn’t seem to be any interest from residential developers. However, the township has received plenty of inquiries from commercial developers, who would like to explore the possibility of putting office facilities on the sites. “We’ve had inquiries from potential developers who would like to use the area for commercial use,” said township administrator Joseph Auriemma. “But we’re not getting any residential requests. So, instead of letting land lie undeveloped, we’re asking the Planning Board to just take a look, to see if something could be done.” The second area in question runs from 76th Street to the Fairview border, between Kennedy Boulevard and Bergenline Avenue. Right now, the ordinance does not allow for multi-family dwellings, but there has been interest in building a “garden apartment complex,” so that would need another adjustment to the existing variance. There has been no confirmation as for the reasoning behind the resolution at this time. However, there has been some speculation that the old Seir Bath factory, located at 92nd Street and Kennedy Boulevard and which has been vacant for years, has been looked at once again as a possible site for either residential or commercial development. Last year, a major distribution company expressed interest in turning the site into a textile manufacturing plant and distribution center. But the Board of Adjustment turned down the plans by the unnamed company after hearing complaints from residents concerning environmental problems on the existing site, as well as potential traffic woes caused by the proposed plant. North Bergen officials would not elaborate as to the extent of any proposed development and cannot discuss it by law until the Planning Board decides to change the zoning variances. But further development could mean more of a financial windfall for a township that has been experiencing a steady growth in the past few years. The time table of April 12 was established in order to give the proposed developers a chance to get all plans in order, in case there is a change in the variances.
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