After threatening to take Red Bank zoners to court over an adverse ruling last month, the owner of the troubled filling station property at the corner of Monmouth and West streets has instead decided to revise his proposal for stores, offices and apartments at the site, this week’s edition of the Hub reports.

This is the project for which the developer, George Coffenberg, planned to erect five buildings with one-inch spaces between them in order to maximize the number of residential units he could get onto the property. He’d also hoped that the design would obviate his need for variances, and thus would result in a hearing before the planning board.

But after being told by planning director Donna Smith Barr that he’d need a density variance, Coffenberg appealed the ruling to the zoning board, which agreed with Smith Barr that the structures were close enough together to merit a full hearing by the board.

Afterward, Coffenberg’s lawyer told redbankgreen that his client was considering whether to accept the decision or “take it to Freehold.”

A trip to Freehold no longer appears to be in the works.

From the Hub:

In the new application the separation has been increased to 15 feet, the height of the building that fronts Monmouth Street has been lowered, the parking variance has been reduced and the office space has been eliminated, according to George M. Coffenberg, who is listed as owner of the property.

“It’s something that will replace some of the worst looking property in downtown Red Bank with some of the best looking property in down town Red Bank,” said Coffenberg, Rumson, last week.

The matter is now expected to be scheduled before the planning board.

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