An architectural rendering of the proposed garage and office building, as seen from the northwest corner of Shrewsbury Avenue and West Front Street.
A proposal to effectively double the size of the Galleria Red Bank shopping, dining and office complex ran into little initial resistance at the opening of planning board hearings Monday night.
But questions about the nearness of the proposed structure to Shrewsbury Avenue and West Front Street are expected to be raised when the review continues early next month.
Board vice chairman Dan Mancuso appeared to suggest that the
structure be moved back from the sidewalks on two sides to meet existing setback requirements.
“I just think we’re closing in on that intersection, which is wide open now,” he said.
George Bowden of the Historic Preservation Commission, left, asks architect Jim Monteforte about a design detail at the planning board hearing.
The developer, ET Galleria LLC, owned by members of the Sourlis
family, is asking for variances to regulations governing setbacks,
maximum lot coverage, signage and other details.
Otherwise, the proposed structure, which would hold parking for 358
cars and two levels of office space, but no stores or restaurants, is
permitted in the business/residential zone in which it’s located.
Zoning requires that the building be set 25 feet from the property lines on all sides. As planned, it’s less than 18 feet from the line on West Front Street and less than 10 feet on the Shrewsbury Avenue side.
In addition, the developers have granted Monmouth County, which owns both roads, easements that could be used to widen each, though no such widenings are currently planned, said project engineer Dan Busch of Maser Consulting.
Mancuso noted that Red Bank Corporate Plaza, built recently two blocks east of the Galleria, provided ample setback from West Front Street.
But Galleria attorney Martin McGann said the approved but still-unbuilt MW West Side Lofts project across Bridge Avenue from the Galleria sought and obtained setback variances similar to those being sought.
Still, board chairman John Cash, referring to his fellow board members, told McGann, “I think everybody’s thinking about moving it back.”
The top two floors of the building would contain 39,000 square feet of office space ringed by outdoor terraces and plantings. The structure would link to the existing Galleria building via a second-story skybridge.
Busch said parking for the Galleria employees and customers during construction would be provided by an elaborate valet system.
George Bowden, chairman of the borough Historic Preservation Commission, sought assurances that the brick used on the new building would be in character with that of the sprawling existing complex, which was built a century ago as the Eisner Uniform factory.
There was no mention of the fate of the Galleria-sponsored Farmers’ Market that takes up residence on the 2.7-acre site on Sundays through the summer and autumn.
The continued hearing and a possible vote are scheduled for May 4.
What are the residents of Red Bank missing?
Existing commercial and residencial spaces throughout the town are empty. Why does someone want to invest in this kind of project when the existing space can not be filled?
Is someone building a ball park we are not aware of?
If this gets approved you can say good bye to any small town charm.
In the rendering, those decorative posts that jut out of the top of the building are rather hideous and take the existing flavor of the design right out of the building.
Thank you Red Bank is Changing for posting that. I guess the big vacant building (with a parking deck) 2 blocks away on West Front Street isn't a big enough sign to the Sourlis'. There are vacant space in the Galleria now. What are people thinking?
That huge air conditioning condenser unit needs to be set farther back from the property line.
Oh wait . . . that's the building itself!!
This is dumbest idea since the last parking deck proposal. RB is no field of dreams; more like build it and it will remain empty…same as all the other ugly empty eyesores around here..
To the Planning Board:
No variances!
No setback variances so you can build a behemoth less than 10 feet from the road.
No variances to exceed the lot coverage!
No sign variances to clutter the visual appearance of town
If you can build it within the ordinances, go ahead. And the fact that variances were granted in other places… let's learn from our mistakes. No variances to cram buildings on lots that are too small for what they want to build. This isn't a hospital or a school that a town needs - this is oversized for the lot only so they can make more money.
That rendering doesnt appear to consider the site triangles for the intersection.
Also, I was surprised to see that there were no comments on the fact that they'd be building part of this on New Jersey Transit's easment. Currently, they rent from NJT in order to circulate traffic in the existing parking lot.
I hope the planning board will take a thourough look at this and comment accordingly. These are the same people that put Red Bank in the hole in the 80s.
This has disaster written all over it.
DONT BUILD THIS P.O.S.!
I think the building looks great, look what your looking at now. If it wasnt for the Sourlis's vision the West Side of Red Bank would be a ghost town. The people who write these negitive comments should go move to another ghost town, for I think thats where they belong. LOSERS.. Great job and best of luck to the Sourlis's, its good to see some positive things finally happening in Red Bank.
Just what we need, another Vacant Space in town.
If you people care so much, why don't you go to the next Planning Board meeting and say something. Complaining on this blog does no one any good.
Believe it or not, if you go to a meeting and complain, Board members actually do listen!
Go to a meeting,
While your point is valid regarding attendance at these meetings, I can tell you that the resident's concerns are typically outweighed by the money and power of the developer's political connections.
Fellow residents and I attended the West Side Loft hearings before the Zoning Board of Adjustment and despite our concerns, the board granted a density variance that was 3 times what was allowed for that zone.
Hence, it's know wonder that Galleria attorney Martin McGann (a frequent contributer to RB Democratic committees) pointed to the West Side project. The Zoning board at that time was giving variances to everbody like free drinks at a wedding. McGann was representing developers before that board long before it was brought to light that he had a conflict of interest. He had a landlord-tenant relationship with zoning board attorney Kevin Kennedy.
The Sourlis' vision for Red Bank's West Side?? Am I mistaken, or didn't their vision for the West Side damned near bankrupt the Boro? Do I have the story wrong? And after years of not paying any property taxes, a fraction of the money comes in, and instead of giving it to the other Red Bank resident taxpayers who had subsidized the failure of the Sourlis business plan, Mayor You-Know-Who uses the cash to build a nice park for out of towners?
Keep me honest here, folks, do I have my facts wrong?
Maybe the council should take the $24K for a new web site and put some of the money toward a survey to find out what Red Bank RESIDENTS (not just taxpayers) really want.
I have a feeling they will find that the RESIDENTS do not want this huge development. If the leaders of this town only asks commercial building owners, you will probably get a different answer.
Unless you attend meetings though, the leaders of this town will continue on this path to changing this town forever. Good bye Red Bank, hello Rahway!
Anyone tried to take a left turn onto Front Street (westbound) from Bridge Avenue at 5pm? If it's impossible now, try it with this Behemoth dumps 358 more cars into this bottleneck.
SMF - I agree that some decisions (and relationships) may seem suspect, but that should be all the more reason to attend these meetings and voice our concerns, as 'Go To A Meeting' suggests. Judging by the posts here, a significant portion of the population is underrepresented at the public portions of these meetings. A few dissenting opinions can be brushed aside, but if substantial numbers come out armed with facts and suggestions, we stand a chance of making this government work for us. The best we can do as residents is push for transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
We've got incumbents up for re-election this year, if we don't like them, educate your peers and get rid of them.
Council is meeting this Monday, 4/27 @ 7:30pm, to discuss the borough budget (http://redbanknj.org). Please come out, voice your concerns, and offer input.
I lived next door to a Sourlis property on the west side. From my experience, their vision was illegal rentals, poor property maintenance, and, oh yeah, stick my neighors for the taxes we don't pay. They nearly bankrupted the boro. This kind of overdevelopment isn't a positive for Red Bank. SWF is right - I went to all the West Side Lofts meetings and watched as we were ignored, ethics were ignored, and another oversized project was jammed down our throats. I'll be there for this one too and will be thrilled if the same old McKennacrats don't give in to the Sourlises. Mark, you're right - the problem is that the level of frustration from being ignored year after year wears people down. Still, we need to keep showing up if there's any hope of getting this awful project voted down.
Another project not needed for our town; how will this project beautify Red Bank, how will this project reduce our taxes; how will this project increase commerce; how will this project help small businesses; does this project help with congestion; does this project increase the closeness of Red Bank as a community; does this project give an open feel that does not suffocate an already congested area?
these projects seem much better in places that need the increased infrastructure.
On a side note, does anyone know the REAL STORY about what happened to Red Bank Pizza/Chiafullos? Perhaps prc. mgt. should buy that property and the planned parenthood lot next door so they can get parking for their pending condo conversion @ grandville (where's the other tower??) towers. Transit Village anyone???
SMF,
Did you say triple the density? Can anyone afford a lawyer?
The NJ Appellate Court in Dec. 2008 (Price v. Strategic Capital Partners, LLC) said: "In our view, a variance that permits the construction of a building with treble the permitted density … has strayed into the forbidden area, absent a compelling explanation to the contrary."
Awsome building,cant wait to see it rise.
The naysayers on this site should go back to where they came from.
If you want to stop building in the town, go buy up all the property.
"Go to the meeting the board members actually listen"
Yea, they listen to crybabies all the time, and when they get scared that their neighbors will be mad at them, they shoot down a good project.
Screw the planning board. My barber has more certification in this State then any planning or zonning board member.
Idiots, go back north where you belong.
Build that mother f%^&er George!!!!!!
Not to interject reality into the rants going on here; but. Whether this gets built is probably not an issue for many years to come. There is no demand. Obtaining zoning approval for an expansion increases the value of the property. My guess is minimal value, but they do add value.
Likely, there are no imminent plans to build, no financing is available anyway. Looks to Lord John as just an attempt to maintain loan to value requirements for your lender. With values plummeting the value for approvals for future development may help satisfy loan covenants.
But, I’m just spitballing, after all I’m just a visitor to your fair dimension.
For a definitive answer I’d consult God if he’s done counting change from Easter Sunday.
LordJohnWarfen,
Thank you for thinking of me again. We did have a Great Easter Weekend collection. I want to personally thank all those who were more than generous during these difficult times. You seem to have a very good understanding of the current real estate market in Red Bank, so I do not need to add much to the story. My children are slowly evolving and with that comes change whether we like it or not. With change comes responsibilities to protect the future generations, so change cannot be taken lightly and must be thought out properly. As always, God Bless!!
Dan and SMF - Exactly what I said, re: a variance on density: this is not a hospital or a school or anything that we NEED in town, so why would the planning board grant such variances? For what reason except the public good would you let developers exceed the standards that the ordinanances have laid out? And this goes for this project and Pat Nulle's Monmouth Street project, for every project. If there is not a compelling reason to grant a variance, why do they?
God, as always when I evoke your name you answer. For that I am reassured.
For you to say you can add no more to the real estate market in Red Bank, you sell your almighty self short. We look to you for guidance in dealing with these difficult issues of variance, bulk set backs and permitable uses.
Lastly, any insight you might have on the ascetics of said proposed development would help immensely.
Myself, from the renderings, this might make a nice house of worship
LordJohn is right. We need a commandment or two on zoning:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's easement, nor his density variance, nor any of his setbacks.
Thou shalt not overcommit density.
Thou shalt not bear false studies concerning the effect of another 350 cars on a congested intersection.
Planning Board's next meeting is May 4th at 7 p.m.
Board members are residents of Red Bank just like you.
Agreed Go to a Meeting.
I miss the old days… Peachy Plumbing Paraphernalia, Blaisdells, Kislins.. the area is turning into Staten Island
agreed, satan, agreed
LordJohnWarfen,
As always, thank you for your kind words. I looked closer at the photo and you are right, it would make a nice place to worship me. I think those strange white ornaments could easily be turned into cross's. Because the building is so close to the train station, more people could attend services via mass transit and help in a "Green" like manner. I love the Green. As for my input on following the rules, I am a big believer in that and that is why I created the Bible so that all would follow the rules of conduct and know right from wrong as well as resist Satan. Being in the ballpark with changes is one thing but trying to fit 10 gallons of holy water into a 5 gallon bucket just does not work.
Dear God,
I live in Red Bank and the water is so expensive, I couldn't afford ten gallons, holy or otherwise. Thanks for all the spring rain - now I can collect some of your water without having to pay for it. Thank you for standing up for us here in town - when the sun comes out tomorrow, I'm going to plant some flowers.
Yeah God,
You are welcome for all of the needed rain. I have blessed all of the good people of Red Bank with a beautiful warm and sunny upcoming weekend. I am glad to hear that you will be planting and "Greening" up Red Bank. Remember these 2 things from Life comes Life and if you want to have nice sunny weekends you need to hit the collection basket this weekend. Thank you and God Bless!
Wow, you guys are out of control. Get a job. Do you own the property? No of course not. So who are you to say what the OWNERS can do to their property. I think the building looks great and will be a huge improvement to the raggy West Side of Red Bank. Look at that side of town now, are you proud of that? You feel safe walking down the street at night? Would you let your daughter walk down the street at night? Did you hear about the double homicide the other month. WE NEED THESE IMPROVEMENTS PLEASE - SAVE/CLEAN OUR TOWN PROPERTY OWNERS.
"So who are you to say what the OWNERS can do to their property."
Me, I have no say. However, ordinances are in place for a reason. Part of the town's economic woes are tied with the air of irresponsibility in not following smart growth and allowing variances to just about anyone who applied for them over the past several years. And now what, a plethora of vacancies anchored by absurd rents. Everyone has been looking to make a killing rather than make a living.
Furthermore, the galleria is set apart from the westside. This is not going to improve whatever troubles face the area. It will only stand as a symbol of greed and decadence that prevails amongst those who care less about the community other than the value of their land.
THE GALLERIA IS THE WEST SIDE. THERE WOULD BE NO WEST SIDE IF WASN'T FOR THE IMPROVED GALLERIA.I THINK THE OWNERS OF THE GALLERIA ARE THE ONES WHO CARE AND WANT TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY. LETS FACE IT, THE WEST SIDE IS A DUMP AND IT WILL STAY A DUMP UNTIL THE PROPERTY OWNERS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY, LOOK AT THE FARMERS MARKET, WHO DOES THAT? HMMM
George, why are you yelling?
I live on North Bridge Avenue, 1/2 block from the Galleria. In the past several years I can barely turn at the corner to get to my home. I cannot even IMAGINE what the traffic would be like if they did this!