Asbury Park Zoning Board Debates Design Changes for Comstock Street Development

The Asbury Park Zoning Board’s recent meeting was primarily focused on the proposed development on Comstock Street, with discussions centering on design changes, parking configuration, and neighborhood integration. The board scrutinized the architectural style of the proposed single-family residence, which diverged from the traditional designs typical of the area. They also addressed the implications of the development’s design choices on neighboring properties and community aesthetics, resulting in a decision to revisit design elements at a future meeting.

The board devoted attention to the architectural design of the proposed house, particularly its front porch and bay window. The design, which some attendees described as modernist and progressive, sparked debate over its alignment with the neighborhood’s historical character. Concerns were raised about the front porch extending the entire length of the house—a feature considered uncommon for the area. The board members suggested modifications, such as adding a wrap-around porch and elevating the building, to better integrate the home into the community fabric. These changes were aimed at creating a vertical separation between the sidewalk and the home’s interior.

Additionally, the board discussed the second-floor balcony, which raised questions about the building’s integrity and visual appeal. The suggestion was made to eliminate the balcony in favor of more square footage on the second floor, with one participant noting that the building “should read more like a cottage,” reflecting the prevalent style of smaller, intimate homes in the area. The strategic positioning of the proposed house was viewed as beneficial for maintaining privacy for neighboring properties, yet the board emphasized the need for further revisions to ensure the design resonated with Asbury Park’s historical essence.

Another topic was the parking design, specifically the front yard parking waiver requested due to the property’s undersized lot. The proposed development included a six-foot swinging gate within the parking area, which board members noted could limit available parking space. The gate was intended to block the visibility of parked vehicles from the street, but concerns arose about its practicality and potential to encourage additional street parking. The applicant was open to further discussion, including the possibility of removing the gate to alleviate these concerns. The board considered extending the driveway further back to provide more space behind the dwelling, which could negate the need for a parking variance.

Engineering considerations were also a focal point, with the applicant’s engineer detailing measures to address stormwater runoff and ensure compliance with community standards. The proposed project promised not to increase stormwater runoff to adjacent properties, with all stormwater directed toward the alley and Comstock Street. The board reviewed various site plans, focusing on setbacks and the arrangement of proposed improvements.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
John Moor
Zoning Board Officials:

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording