Edison residents call for public advocate in planning, zoning issues

EDISON – Will Edison one day have a public advocate to represent the concerns of residents when major proposals come before the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment?

Maybe.

The idea was discussed by several council members and residents during Wednesday's Township Council meeting.

"I think the residents deserve to get this ball rolling. The residents have been activists and the Charlie Brown's residents, those particular advocates, and the Silver Lake advocates, these people have worked very, very hard and have shelled out a lot of money in order to get representation to zoning and planning," said Councilwoman Margot Harris.

Harris said it's time the talk from the public is followed up by some action and study of what would be involved in having a public advocate.

"I think the public deserves this," Harris said.

Resident Lori Jordan suggested the idea of a public advocate at Wednesday's meeting, adding she would rather see a new hire for that position rather than the $135,000 the council authorized for Diwali and holiday marketplace lighting, the $147,000 authorized for furniture in various township departments and the $19,000 authorized for fall chrysanthemum plants to beautify the Amboy Avenue downtown and other sections of Edison.

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Council President Joe Coyle said it's not a terrible thing to invest in Edison's downtown to make it look vibrant with 120 flower beds and 50 hanging baskets. The council decided not to authorize $8,500 to have a company install the fall plants, he said.

Jordan said if resident Nick Fagan, a leader in the fight against multi-family housing at the former Charlie Brown's site on Plainfield Road, or resident Ron Loeffler, who led the fight against a large warehouse in his Silver Lake Avenue neighborhood, relocate from Edison, the community will be at a loss for all the information they have provided.

"Can we think of public advocacy which has been brought up over the months and has had zero traction because right now the residents are doing the work a public advocate would be doing," Jordan said.

In Paramus, Bergen County, that borough’s website lists the public advocate to the zoning and planning boards’ duties and responsibilities to "represent and advocate the public interest, not individual interests in proceedings of substantial importance which he or she shall determine in his or her sole discretion warrant representation and advocacy."

"There are a lot of land use issues that are cascading in Edison," said resident Joel Bassoff, who noted the Silver Lake residents hired an attorney to help them fight the warehouse, and the township stepped in to purchase it as open space. "But not every neighborhood has the ability and resources to do that."

He said unless Edison joins the ranks of the municipalities like Paramus, Oradell, Fairlawn and West Orange that establish the position of municipal public advocate, it's possible that improper overdevelopment will take place in the parts of the township where the people are the least equipped to advocate for their own rights.

Bassoff filed an appeal to the zoning board's approval of a use variance for the construction of seven duplex homes at the former Charlie Brown's site. That appeal is scheduled to be heard by the Township Council next month.

Councilman Ajay Patil said discussion about a public advocate comes up every time there is big project in Edison, and the council needs to reach an agreement about whether to go forward and have someone to represent the taxpayers at planning and zoning board meetings on big projects that impact residents’ quality of life.

Councilman Richard Brescher said he's in favor of a public advocate and questioned if the council could create the position. He said applicants before the planning and zoning board come with attorneys, engineers and other professionals and present a case that sounds wonderful, but the public doesn't have professional working on their side.

Coyle said he recognizes the hard work residents have done but he still has questions about the public advocate position and the cost to the township.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.