Parking lot to become four-home cul-de-sac Planning Board approved proposal on former Ford plant parking lot BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer EDISON - The Zoning Board unanimously approved an application to build a new cul-de-sac, to be named Toth Court, containing four new single-family homes off Johnstone Street. The new cul-de-sac will be built near the intersection of Johnstone and Vineyard Road. The approximately 2.5-acre property was once used as a truck parking lot by the nearby former Ford plant. The plans also call for a commercial retail building with a parking lot to be built on the site. "It will have four conforming residential lots to the west side of the cul-de-sac," said planner for the applicant, Julius Szalay. "The applicant is also proposing to create a fifth lot of approximately 55,000 square feet that will contain a retail building. The building will be oriented towards Vineyard Road and will have a lot containing 60 parking spaces." The planner said this proposal improves certain conditions found on the site. "With this proposal, we are actually substantially decreasing the amount of impervious coverage on the site and will be decreasing the rate of runoff," he said. Traffic engineer for the applicant Lester Nebenzahl said that the development would have "no substantial negative detriment" to the surrounding neighborhood. "The proposed use is more compatible than with what exists," Nebenzahl said. "There would be great benefits in terms of aesthetics. I see no detriment. The site is unique and particularly suitable for the intended use." Nebenzahl also spoke about the traffic conditions of the area in question. "This is a very heavily traveled area," he said. "Certainly Vineyard Road has become a major artery. The proposed development would generate 48 vehicular trips in the morning and 158 in the afternoon peak hour." But neighbors gave conflicting views as to whether they approved of the application. Resident Peter O'Neil said that "putting in 10 more stores" in the area will make traffic on Vineyard Road "even worse." "If I want to make a left on Vineyard, I cannot," O'Neil said. "I have to make a right, then a right into a lot, and then a left back up. In the afternoon, forget it." O'Neil said that houses would be preferable over businesses. "I know the town doesn't want more houses because of the stress on the school system, but I think we need houses with children, not businesses," he said. "Look how many strip malls we have. I don't think they will be able to fill the proposed retail space with stores. If it were my money, I would not build them." However, Karen O'Reilly, a resident of Magee Road for the last 20 years, wanted the board to approve the application, saying the current unused lot "looks like a slum area." "There is a parking lot in my backyard," O'Reilly said. "In all my years living here, the lot has never been as bad as it is now. There are weeds all over, and the truckers are using it as a urinal." O'Reilly said that an effort needs to be made to make permanent changes to the lot. "I have called Edison police, and they are polite and responsive, but as soon as they leave, the truckers start it up again," she said. "It is time to clean up the area. Four new luxury homes is the answer. I am begging you to approve this application." The application was approved 7-0 by the board.