Edison Board Plans for Future with Medical Office and Residential Projects

The Edison Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on February 27th, 2024, was notable for its focus on development proposals that could shape the community’s infrastructure and residential fabric. Among the various cases considered, the plan for a three-story medical office building intended to address the changing needs of medical practices in light of the pandemic was a prominent item. The meeting also examined a proposal for a three-unit residential triplex, signaling potential growth and densification in residential zones.

The proposal for the new medical office on James Street was a central point of discussion. Dr. Muhammad Zuar, a medical practitioner, outlined his ambition to relocate his practice to Edison, driven by the desire to serve the community more effectively during and after the pandemic. Dr. Zuar’s testimony provided a detailed account of the building’s purpose, with particular attention to patient safety and the necessity for isolation in a post-pandemic era. The facility’s design included separate waiting areas, exam rooms for infectious diseases, and staggered appointments to minimize patient interaction. The office’s operational hours and the scheduling of patient visits were also extensively deliberated to ensure minimal congestion and maximum efficiency.

Dr. Zuar further described the medical office as including 10 exam rooms, with an unlikely scenario of all rooms being in use at once. He noted that only four employees, inclusive of himself, would be present during daytime operations. At night, the office would facilitate sleep studies managed by a sole technologist. The careful separation of exam and sleep study rooms was a direct response to infectious disease concerns, emphasizing the building’s role in improving health outcomes for patients with acute diseases.

The architectural plans for the proposed structure were presented by David Dugas. The building was designed to reflect a modern aesthetic using brick and metal panels. It would comprise a lower lobby, elevator, staircase, reception waiting room, five exam rooms on the lower floors, and sleep study rooms with monitoring stations on the third floor. Despite the need for a floor area ratio variance and a slight height variance of 2.83 feet above the permitted limit, the structure was poised to contribute to the local healthcare landscape.

The civil engineer, John Dupont, examined the current conditions of the property and its compatibility with the surrounding area, which includes JFK hospital and other medical buildings. He emphasized the mixed-use nature of the James Street Corridor and provided reassurances that the proposed signage would adhere to existing ordinances. The board’s concerns about parking space sufficiency and the need for a sign permit were addressed, with the applicant asserting that the 19 parking stalls would be ample due to the by-appointment nature of the practice.

Discussions also addressed practical considerations such as setbacks, parking layout, lighting, landscaping, and stormwater management. The applicant presented plans, including 20 parking spaces, with ADA accessibility and provision for electric vehicles. The lighting plan was designed to prevent spillage and operate on timers, and a robust landscaping plan promised a buffer between the medical facility and residential neighbors. The board deferred the planning testimony until police and fire reports were obtained and decided to continue the case until April 30th, allowing time for further review and public input.

Another case involved Shoi Construction LLC, which sought to construct a three-unit one-bedroom triplex on vacant land. The representative, Bernard Sh, discussed the necessity for variances due to the project not meeting certain master plan standards, including side yard setback and maximum floor area. The discussion revealed a shift from a prior two-story office building application to the current residential triplex proposal. The board considered the updated stormwater calculations and the need for pipeline buffering documentation. John Dupont offered insights into the property and the intended construction, emphasizing the impact on the local area. The triplex would feature individual garages and driveways for each unit, with the foundation being a slab. With no public comments or questions, the board considered the previous approval of a similar use and the relatively minor variance requests, ultimately approving the application unanimously, subject to conditions related to planning and engineering reports.

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:
Sam Joshi
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