Developers present scaled‑back Pompton Plaza plan, ask borough for zoning clarity

Developer representatives presented a conceptual plan for the Pompton Plaza site and asked the borough for guidance on zoning changes needed to advance the project.

Bob Benicki, representing the redevelopment team, said the proposal would take about 1.75 acres of contiguous parcels and convert them into an apartment‑and‑retail project that retains roughly 50,000 square feet of existing retail and adds about 210 residential units. "It's approximately 1.75 acres and transform them into a apartment slash retail class a plus facility," Benicki said, adding that the unit count was reduced from earlier iterations of nearly 400 units.

The plan, as described, would include an on‑site public plaza of roughly 8,000 square feet, retail storefronts around the plaza, and parking to achieve approximately 1.5 parking spaces per residential unit. Benicki said that target translates into the “mid‑300s” parking spaces. The presentation also stated that 7% of the proposed units would be affordable and that the team would provide an affordable‑housing contribution in addition to that quota.

Developer and property manager representatives described three fallback layouts: a larger, institutional‑funded “Plan A” that they said was not approved by the redevelopment agency; “Plan B” (the current concept) that preserves existing front buildings and builds behind them; and a conventional “Plan C” with lower‑rise, 3–4‑story infill without a plaza. "If this was not acceptable, the only other way we can do this is by keeping these existing buildings and then building something in the back," one presenter said.

A central issue raised repeatedly was the borough’s redevelopment zoning table that sets height maximums based on lot geometry. The developer said investors want the ordinance and any zoning amendments in place before committing funds. "Our investment group and institutional folks want these changes to be agreed to by the borough in the ordinance before we proceed," the presentation said. The team noted they had completed traffic, sewer, title, will‑serve and other due diligence totaling more than $250,000.

Council members did not engage in detailed Q&A during the 15‑minute slot; the mayor and council indicated the correct next procedural step would be further review by the borough’s Redevelopment Agency and the planning board. Council and staff directed the developer to pursue formal submission and to coordinate with board review and public outreach.

What happens next: the developer was told to take the project to the Redevelopment Agency and the planning board for formal review and that the council would not offer feedback during the presentation slot. The borough will determine whether to pursue zoning or ordinance changes prior to investor commitment.