Moor wants to know more about Cookman office ban
'I'm wondering if there is a middle ground'
The issue of first floor business uses along Cookman Avenue — in particular the ban on office space — was brought up at last week’s council meeting.
Councilman John Moor requested Donald Sammet, the city’s redevelopment and planning director, make a presentation at a later date on what types of businesses can operate on Cookman Avenue.
Cookman Avenue falls within the Central Business District [CBD] redevelopment plan. It is designated as “the main retail corridor within the Asbury Park Central Business District” in the plan summary.
The CBD plan states what types of businesses are allowed to operate on Cookman. The plan specifically bans office space on the first floor of buildings that front Cookman Avenue.
“Cookman is seen as the retail spine of downtown,” Sammet said. Too many offices on Cookman would take away from the retail vision and draw less foot traffic, he said.
Moor and Councilwoman Amy Quinn [shown above right] will meet with Sammet today to be familiarized with the CBD plan. Sammet is unsure whether they will ask him to do a full presentation in front of the city council.
Recently, the ban on first floor offices forced the Marshall Jackson and Partners advertising agency to vacate its Cookman Avenue space. The agency had shared the space with an art gallery and a photography studio at 716 Cookman Ave. But the city’s zoning officer told the agency’s owners in a verbal warning that the arrangement was not in compliance with the CBD plan.
In addition, no mercantile license has been obtained for the business, which would have triggered a formal zoning review.
Some ground floor spaces on Cookman have both a retail and office component, but in those circumstances the retail takes up more than 50 percent of the space and the businesses are owned by the same tenant or building owner. Retail uses are allowed.
Moor had been reading about Marshall Jackson and Partners’ problem with zoning in the local media, he said. “I know there are two separate sides, but, to me, I’m wondering if there is a middle ground.”
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