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Waterfront redeveloper iStar Financial has reversed its decision not to appear for a second time at the city’s Technical Review Committee [TRC] to review plans for a development of townhomes in the southwest waterfront area.

The proposed project — called “South Grand” — includes three row-like structures consisting of nine units each built along the western portion of the block bordered by Sewall and Monroe and Grand avenues.

Representatives from iStar Financial and K. Hovnanian Homes met with the TRC in March to discuss the project. IStar owns the land and the development rights to the site. Hovnanian and iStar have an agreement for the home builder to construct the development; iStar is responsible for obtaining the approvals.

A second meeting has been requested by iStar for April 22 but may be moved to April 28 to allow the committee ample time to review the new plans, although no legal statutory timeline exists for submitting plans for the review process, according to Donald Sammet, the city’s director of planning and redevelopment.

After the initial meeting with the TRC, iStar attorney Frederick Laventhal declined to return to address the concerns of committee members, citing the purely advisory nature of the Planning Board subcommittee, and instead requesting the committee members submit their concerns in writing for iStar’s review.

It marked the first time any applicant refused to come back before the committee, which is not actually a legal requirement, Sammet told the TRC during the March meeting.

The TRC is the first step in the approval process for new development in the waterfront redevelopment zone. The committee reviews whether a project meets certain specific design standards, makes recommendations to developers and provides comments to the Planning Board before the project is presented to the full board for review. The City Council also must approve the project.

At the March TRC meeting, members Sarah Ann Towery and John Moor, who sit on the city’s Planning Board, both expressed dismay in the design of the sides of the buildings [shown at right] which would be visible on the streetscapes that front Monroe and Sewall Avenues.

[Click here to see additional photos of the proposed South Grand development.]

“Like with any other development project in the Asbury Park waterfront, the TRC is part of the public approval process, and feedback is always welcome,” iStar spokesman Roger Ardan said in an email correspondence with the Sun. “We listened carefully to the comments made by members of the committee at the last meeting and have made some adjustments to the development plan.  The result is a better plan for the property.”

Ardan did not specify what the adjustments to the development plans entail.

“We look forward to sharing the updated plans with the community and taking another important step in the successful redevelopment of the waterfront,” he said in the email.

No plans were submitted to the city as of April 16, Sammet said.

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