Tinton Falls Planning Board Considers Retail and Office Complex on Sycamore Avenue

The landscape along Sycamore Avenue near the falls might be changing if an application before the borough's planning board and historic committee is approved.

The Tinton Falls Planning Board re-examined an application for a retail and office complex on Sycamore Avenue at its meeting on Wednesday night. The applicant, James Brooks of Colder Development LLC, is seeking completeness waivers and preliminary and final site plan approval for The Falls to be built behind the Tinton Falls Deli. 

“I’m looking to create an environment for people in town and bring in needed services,” said Brooks regarding the proposed retail and office site. “The area is currently developed but needs redevelopment.”

Architect Michael Monroe, who represented the applicant, said, “The structure was designed to break up the mass of the buildings into three separate buildings with glimpses of the existing woods between them, creating an open space effect.”  He added that signage and paint colors would reflect the historic nature of the site. 

“The placement of the buildings will be along the river’s edge so as to not detract from the existing historic building of the grist mill,” said Monroe, who explained the intent of the developer is to enhance the historic nature of the site that contains the grist mill, currently used as a restaurant. 

“The structure will make use of the current paved area on the site and there is no intention of removing trees or interfering with the brush behind the building” said Monroe. 

The majority of the discussion on Wednesday night centered on the parking and driveway plans. The applicant’s engineer, Andrew Stockton, provided detailed exhibits demonstrating the internal truck movements for standard box-type delivery trucks and that of larger trucks. A loading bay on the site was possible with the sacrifice of a parking space.

A "shared parking study" by the applicant indicated that 135 parking spaces are required for the proposed combination of retail and office space. Attorney Gordon Gemma, who represented the applicant, said they would submit an application for a variance to allow for 135 parking spaces rather than the 153 proposed by the ordinance.

The application is still under review by the planning board in consultation with the Tinton Falls Historic Preservation Committee.