The Seaside Heights planning board has approved a minor tweak to a development project in which 10 townhomes had initially been proposed along Central Avenue.
The townhomes, eight of which have been constructed or are under construction, replaced the former Quality Inn motel, once known as the Cranbury Inn Motel, along the main artery between Sampson and Hiering avenues. The homes will front all three roads.
The board granted unanimous approval to the developer, Shree Properties, to modify its plan to reduce the number of buildings from 10 to nine, but maintain 10 residences. Specifically, the board was asked to change the subdivision from 10 lots to 9 lots and with approval to build a two-family home on the ninth parcel.
The substitution of two townhomes with one two-family home required a modification of the lot lines that were agreed-to during the initial approval process, which took place in 2021.
At the 2021 hearing, two neighboring homeowners spoke. Both complained about the noise and what they described as an unkempt property surrounding the old motel. One of the residents, Dino Bozzi, said he supported the replacement of the motel, but felt 10 units would be too dense for the property, considering summer parking issues. The new lot lines, as described, reduce the density of the subdivision by one building.
Likewise to the first approval, the board signed off the on the modification with a unanimous vote at a meeting last week.