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The Asbury Park City Council made the first step to approve a redevelopment plan for Brownfield site that sat vacant for more the 20 years. Brownfield refers to contaminated sites deemed in need of remediation.

Once the home of Finks Plastics, the First Avenue and Langford Street site is owned by Mark Adjmi and his Asbury Holdings LLC, who will handle the property’s remediation.

City Manager Michael Capabianco said because the Planning Board failed to vet the project details within 45 days of their Dec. 7 request, the governing body, as the City’s redevelopment authority, had the right to move forward with its approval process.

The plan calls for an 80 unit residential complex in the City’s R1 residential zone. There are two retail spaces and four residential units proposed on the ground floor; two apartments facing First Avenue and two facing Second Avenue.

The developer has proposed appropriating 20 percent of the units as deed restricted affordable apartments, the City’s Director of Planning and Redevelopment Michele Alonso has said. This equates to 16 affordable units.

And while it would be in the Asbury Holdings LLC’s right to request a Payment In Lieu of Taxes [PILOT] abatement, they have not done so.

A semi enclosed flex space would be used to accommodate parking at the rear of the building along Langford Street, with overflow parking allocated on the adjacent green space.

There are also sustainable requirements outlined, including a green build roof design, energy efficient appliances, use of rain gardens, and a maximum of two electric car charging stations.

Alonso said the city would enter into a subsequent redeveloper’s agreement for the affordable housing deed restriction.

A hearing allowing for public questions and comments will be held prior to the final vote, which is slated for the March 14 City Council meeting.

For more on the redevelopment plan, click here.

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