Authored by the Springwood Avenue Advisory Committee, the plan calls for a combination of residential and commercial uses, as well as city parks, along a blighted corridor that has been largely vacant for more than three decades. City director of Planning and Development Donald Sammet devised the plan after more than a year of community input. Pending final approval, community officials say they will solicit multiple developers for the redevelopment. No timetable has been released.
"One of our priorities has been to retain existing residents and businesses while growing to meet future needs of the community," said Councilman Edward Johnson, a co-chairman of the committee, in unveiling the plan late last week. "We're creating new opportunities."
The plan calls for four zones within the 10-block area. The gateway zone would include commercial uses on the ground floor and offices and residential above, with building heights capped at four stories. Art galleries, theaters and restaurants are among the suggested uses.
A residential zone, meanwhile, would have buildings of up to three stories, and would include two public parks. And what's termed a "neighborhood commercial zone" would have retail and restaurant uses on the ground floor and residences above, with building heights of up to three stories. It would also have a variety of community uses.
Finally, the plan calls for a zone along the western end of the area that would back up against Neptune Township's own plans to redevelop the corridor, which provides the boundary between the two communities. The proposal calls for the two towns to cooperate in fleshing out the uses within the fourth zone.
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