Restaurant parking lot revamp may help traffic
Zoning Board approves lot renovations, nixes mixed-use building
BY JAY BODAS
Staff Writer

EDISON — Oak Tree Road’s 25-year-old Edison Family Restaurant will soon get a makeover.

The application, which had been continued from an Oct. 31 meeting, was unanimously approved by the Zoning Board at its Dec. 19 meeting.

The applicant proposed to increase paving and install new striping, curbing, lighting and landscaping, according to the board planner’s report.

“I believe this improvement will greatly enhance the safety of Oak Tree Road, and this is going to alleviate cars backing out and will control the traffic on the site,” board member Robert Karabinchak said.

The 0.64-acre property is located on the northeast side of Oak Tree Road near the corner of Tamaginni Court. The two-story, 3,553-square-foot restaurant sits on the property’s western side, and a separate two-story building sits on the eastern side. Paved and gravel areas surround the restaurant.

Karabinchak moved to approve the application with the following conditions.

“The Zoning Board will have complete jurisdiction on the entire site,” he said. “The owner will go into a developer’s agreement with the town. They will comply with [the board planner’s] reports, and the applicant will merge the lots because there are multiple lots.”

“The applicant has also testified that they would only be open for breakfast and lunch,” Karabinchak said.

Peter Vignuolo, attorney for the applicant, said that a two-story building adjacent to the restaurant would not be used for residential purposes, though this was originally requested in the application.

“Regarding the issue of a mixed use on the two-story home, there was some concern over the apartment that was proposed for the second floor,” Vignuolo said. “The applicant has indicated that residential use will be eliminated and the property will be used for office space.”

The application had been continued from Oct. 31 due to debate on the number of seats allowed by law in the restaurant. On the advice of board attorney Karl Kemm, the board noted in its resolution that the restaurant was permitted a maximum capacity of 88 seats.