Amboy Avenue Revitalization Plan - Edison, New … Rehabilitation...Community Meeting April 6, 2016 HEYER, GRUEL & ASSOCIATES A e r i a l A m b o y A v e n u e HEYER, GRUEL & ASSOCIATES

T o w n s h i p o f E d i s o n

A m b o y A v e n u e

R e v i t a l i z a t i o n P l a n

C l a r a B a r t o n

N e i g h b o r h o o d

C o m m u n i t y M e e t i n g

A p r i l 6 , 2 0 1 6

HEYER, GRUEL & ASSOCIATES

A e r i a l

A m b o y A v e n u e HEYER, GRUEL & ASSOCIATES

Key Comments from January Community Meeting


Types of businesses the community would like to see in the area:• Ice cream shop• Grocery store

• Health food• “Green” grocer

• Deli• Pharmacy• Butcher• Kid friendly stores• Everyone loves the coffee shop

Types of businesses the community would NOT like to see in the area:• Bars• Clubs• Hookah shop

General preferences for area:• Height sensitivity• More connections to the Middlesex County

Greenway• Bike parking• Neighborhood “green space” on front lawn of

Clara Barton• No agreement on parking structures• No agreement on relation of buildings to

sidewalk• Wants continuity throughout the area • Maximize green space

What the community sees as key issues:• Not enough parking• Too much traffic• Some don’t like bump outs while others do• Viability of Amboy Avenue as a commercial

corridor


P l a n P r i n c i p l e s


Based on comments from the previous meeting, the following Plan Principles have been developed:

Commercial Corridor• Reinforce commercial uses along

the Amboy Avenue corridor.• Create mixed-use development

opportunities.• Provide adequate opportunities

for parking.

Residential Areas• Preserve and strengthen the

existing residential neighborhood within and around the Area.

Site Design• Create attractive and appropriate

site design.• Enhance the pedestrian and

biking experience.

Green Space• Increase connections to, and

awareness of, the Middlesex County Greenway.

• Maximize green space within the Area.


K e y G o a l s


• To improve the commercial corridor withnew mixed-use development that isconsiderate of the Area’s context andsurroundings.

• To address the supply and location ofpresent and future parking needs of theArea’s businesses and residences.

• To increase usage and support wayfindingtechniques for the commercial corridor andMiddlesex County Greenway.

• To create a focal point within theneighborhood.

• To promote economic development withinthe Area.

• To encourage developers to meet “Green”sustainable standards.

• To create connections between AmboyAvenue and the adjacent residentialneighborhoods.

• To create a framework for rehabilitating theArea’s aging housing stock.

• To preserve and maintain the existingpredominantly single family neighborhoods.


• To utilize a District Overlay Option to provide understandable and predictable developments.

E x i s t i n g L a n d U s e


E x i s t i n g A p p r o v a l s / P r o p o s a l s


Proposed Commercial Corridor Overlay District


P u r p o s e o f O v e r l a y D i s t r i c t


• The Overlay District constitutes an overlay to existing zoning along the AmboyAvenue commercial corridor.

• The purpose is to encourage mixed-use development and revitalization forAmboy Avenue.

• Developers have the option of applying existing zoning standards or the OverlayDistrict Standards.


Residences in Clara Barton NeighborhoodMixed-Use development along Amboy Avenue

O v e r l a y D i s t r i c t O p t i o n


• An alternative to conventional zoning standards

• A graphic depiction of allowable building features and zoning requirements

• More control over design

• Considers the manner in which buildings relate to one another as well as theirrelationship to the street.

• Goal is to achieve an integrated built environment

Type 1: MU-Retail/Office Type 2: MU-Retail/Res Type 3: Residential Type 4: Office


R e g u l a t i n g P l a n - O v e r l a y D i s t r i c t


Building Type 1• Mixed Use: Retail/Office• Permitted throughout Overlay District

Building Type 2• Mixed Use: Retail/Residential• Permitted throughout Overlay District

Building Type 3• Residential• Not permitted to front on Amboy Avenue

Building Type 4• Office• Not permitted to front on Amboy Avenue

The Regulating Plan identifies how the building types are related to each other and where each is permitted. The following are proposed for the Amboy Avenue Rehabilitation Area:


Type 1: MU-Retail/Office Type 2: MU-Retail/Res Type 3: Residential Type 4: Office

B u i l d i n g T y p e s – T y p e 1


Principal Permitted Uses

First floor only:• Retail sales/services• Eating and drinking establishments• Instructional facilities such as karate

and dance schools• Banks and financial institutions• Child care centers

Upper floors:• Professional and

general offices

Permitted Height:

Max: 4 stories/45 feet

Min:2 stories/30 feet


Building Type 1: Mixed Use - Retail/Office

Permitted throughout Overlay District




First floor only:• Retail sales/services• Eating and drinking establishments• Instructional facilities such as karate

and dance schools• Banks and financial institutions• Child care centers

Upper floors:• Multi-family residential

Permitted Height:

Max:4 stories/45 feet



Building Type 2: Mixed Use - Retail/Residential

Permitted throughout Overlay District



Principal Permitted Uses:

• Multi-family residential• Townhouse units

Permitted Height:

Max:3 ½ stories/42 feet



Building Type 3: Residential

Not permitted to front on Amboy Avenue




All floors:• Professional and general office• Banks and financial institutions• Child care centers

Permitted Height:

Max: 3 stories/40 feet

Min:2 stories/30


Building Type 4: Office

Not permitted to front on Amboy Avenue

S t r e e t C o r r i d o r P l a n


Bike Racks

Wayfinding Signage


Existing street improvements along Amboy Avenue to remain.

Proposed additions to street corridor

Parallel ParkingStreet SignsStreet LightsRefuse Containers

PlantersBenchesCrosswalksBump-outs

Additional Planters

O p p o r t u n i t y S i t e s


P r o p o s e d N e i g h b o r h o o d G r e e n


Existing Conditions


P r o p o s e d N e i g h b o r h o o d G r e e n


Potential community uses of Neighborhood Green


P a r k i n g


• Any of the opportunity sites may be considered for public parking• Parking will also be incorporated into development projects

G r e e n w a y C o n n e c t i o n s


• Coordinate with County to implement wayfinding signage throughout the Amboy Avenue commercial corridor.

• Place bike racks at/near entrances to Greenway.• Make Jackson Avenue more bike-friendly.• Investigate possible bike share opportunities.


Primary Access from Jackson Ave.

Secondary Access from Liddle Ave.

E d i s o n T o w n s h i p


Thank you!

Documents

Amboy Avenue Revitalization Plan - Edison, New … Rehabilitation...Community Meeting April 6, 2016 HEYER, GRUEL & ASSOCIATES A e r i a l A m b o y A v e n u e HEYER, GRUEL & ASSOCIATES