New ordinance sends message to developers It's now more difficult for developers to take over mobile home parks BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer Edison EDISON - In a unanimous decision, the Township Council recently adopted an ordinance establishing a new mobile home park district to protect four current mobile home parks from encroachment by developers. "This ordinance is not just an important ordinance for the residents of Edison Terrace, but it is symbolic as to where this government is going to stand up for everyday people," Mayor Jun Choi said before the ordinance was adopted at the Aug. 23 council meeting. The ordinance formally lists Edison Mobile Estates, Edison Terrace Mobile Home Park, Edison Trailer Court and Edison Mobile Gardens as mobile home parks. The ordinance also lists the licenses and permits that are required for mobile homes and establishes height, size and density requirements for them. "The way that it used to happen in Edison was that very powerful developers used to come into our community and think they could do whatever they want," Choi said. "We sent a very powerful message to those residents that we are not for sale. We are going to take our community back and stand up for everyday people and the little guys who make our community so great." The rezoning makes it more difficult for developers to develop the areas comprised in the district, the mayor said after the meeting. "They are currently residential, but a developer needs to get approval from the township to move forward with those plans," Choi said. "Now they would also have to rezone it before they could move forward, which is a much higher threshold, which requires extensive testimony and council meetings. A rezoning is much more difficult than just a Planning Board application. I am not saying it is impossible, but it is a much higher threshold to get done." Choi said that his administration wants to concentrate development in "designated town centers" rather than the properties protected by the ordinance. Council members Charles Tomaro and Antonia Ricigliano praised residents' efforts to help establish the ordinance. "We saw a lot of frightened faces that night, with people who were worried they might possibly lose their homes to a developer," Tomaro said, referring to a meeting held with residents earlier in the year. "I know the mayor is committed to doing what we could legally do." "To all of you who came out very early on, thank you for getting in touch with us," Ricigliano said. "Without your concerted support, we couldn't do it. You were there, you filled the auditorium, you asked excellent questions, you didn't make demands ... and this is the end result." Edison Terrace resident Denise Ehnat thanked the council for passing the ordinance. "We needed an idea to save our community," Ehnat said. "We spoke with Mayor Choi to see what he could do to assist us. He was extremely sympathetic, and it was an important meeting for us. With that, on behalf of Edison Terrace, I would like to say thank you. I cannot express the depth of gratitude that we have." Ehnat said after the meeting she felt "overwhelmed" by the support she had from both the mayor and council members. "You go to people in positions of power, hoping they will help you, but in today's world, I hate to say it, but you sometimes feel the little people are forgotten," Ehnat said. "But the township never gave us the brush-off. Right from the go, they were on it. The compassion that was conveyed blew me away." The issue first came to light last December when a number of tenants at Edison Terrace received new lease agreements from owner Edgewood Properties asking for a $260 increase in monthly rent, from $335 to $595 - a more than 75 percent hike. That increase was illegal, Ehnat has said, because the mobile home park has covered the township's rent control ordinance. Edgewood Properties later reduced the rent increase to 5 percent, but residents remained concerned. After last week's meeting, Township Council President Robert Diehl said the ordinance was created to address those concerns. "The ordinance ended up being created and passed because of the situation that originally existed with rents being raised and people having to make costly improvements to their homes," Diehl said. "It led to the fear that these parks may be developed into something that they aren't. The council felt that it was important enough that the property wouldn't be sold out and developed from under them."