BAYONNE – The city Planning Board unanimously approved a plan for North Avenue, LLC to construct a 22-story, 244-foot, mixed-use building next to the Eighth Street Light Rail station.
The project is part of the larger City of Bayonne Eighth Street Station Rehabilitation Area Plan. A large focus of that plan revolves around the redevelopment of the empty lot on North Street which used to house a supermarket, where the 22-story tower will be built.
The project will include ground-floor retail, a multi-level parking garage, and 170 residential units in its first phase. A sister tower could be developed in a later phase.
The 9-0 vote came three and half hours after the meeting’s 6 p.m. start. Two other items preceded the hearing on the North Avenue application, which featured a team of speakers, including experts from the legal, engineering, planning, architecture, and traffic fields.
Before casting their vote, each of the nine commissioners told why they thought the project was a good one for the area and for the city as a whole.
Only five residents attended to testify against the proposal. Those residents cited concerns about more traffic and noise, and less privacy and sunshine due to the footprint of the tall building. –Joseph Passantino
Bayonne Planning Board approves 22-story building
