Council: No more houses
Council passes resolution declaring general aversion to residential development
BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer

EDISON- The Township Council has pledged to oppose and resist any new residential development that can be helped. Through a resolution passed during the council's Jan. 9 meeting, the council unanimously approved what was described by Council President Robert Diehl as a mission statement against residential housing.

"By passing this resolution, we are telling the public that this is our position as a council, that we are going to have our radar on, our eyes open and we are going to be in tune and not going to allow this type of voluntary residential housing put up in this town," said Diehl.

The resolution itself is a nonbinding statement that pledges that the council will avoid moves that will allow further residential development in the township. Councilman Anthony Massaro, who was "proud to take ownership of" the resolution, said that the statement stems from the hindsight connected to previous bad experiences involving residential development.

"I'm a believer that words have meaning and there's meaning to words … [The resolution] memorializes the lessons we've learned in these chambers," saidMassaro.

The lessons themselves, to Massaro, involve the town having adopted ordinances or accepted redevelopment plans that involved a housing component, which, he said, was to the township's detriment. The resolution says that the council will not approve any redevelopment plan that includes any type of residential component, or adopt any rezoning ordinance where the township or property owner seeks to voluntarily rezone any property for residential purposes.

CouncilmanAntonia Ricigliano pointed out that while the council will fight any residential development it is capable of opposing, the council is not legally able to stop everything.

"[This] doesn't mean that there will never be any housing, because obviously many parcels are zoned residential," Ricigliano said, noting that the resolution was more about the residential development the council is able to control.

Councilman Sudhanshu Prasad expressed support for the ideas behind the resolution, but also had reservations and suggested forming a committee to discuss it a bit more. Massaro said that time was of the essence, given the number of potential new residential developments and redevelopment plans in the works.

"If we form a committee, we've blinked. … It's gut check time: more housing or no more housing," said Massaro.

Township attorney Jeffrey Leher also pointed out that the resolution can, if need be, be rescinded, since it's essentially a mission statement. In the end, Prasad voted yes with the other council members.

Residents attending the meeting voiced support for the resolution as well.

"I hope we keep this in mind and stick to it," said Edison resident Lois Wolke.