News
RB Senior Facility Wins Approval For Addition
By John Burton
RED BANK - The zoning board unanimously approved an application by The Atrium at Navesink Harbor to construct a 60-unit addition on property adjacent to the present facility at 40 Riverside Avenue.
The not-for-profit continuing care retirement community (CCRC has occupied its riverfront location since 1968 and is presently undergoing renovations.
The facility offers three level of care for residents, independent, assisted living, and nursing care, allowing residents to remain at that location as their needs change with time and age.
Discussions about constructing an addition began approximately 10 years ago when the facility was owned by American Baptist Estates of Red Bank.
The initial proposal became embroiled in controversy when residents of a neighboring high-rise raised objections about the plan, claiming that it would obstruct their views and reduce the amount of natural light.
The zoning board ultimately voted against the proposal, but the Navesink House appealed that decision in state Superior Court, which overturned the zoning board's decision on the grounds that the project was an inherently beneficial use. The matter was remanded back to the board.
Six years ago, zoners approved a plan for a six-story addition, with residents of the neighboring Riverview Towers eventually dropping their objections after lengthy negotiations.
Presbyterian Homes and Services, which had acquired the facility, considered revising the plan to double the size of the proposed addition, to 12 stories, but dropped those plans based on market analysis and the prospect of another protracted battle with neighbors.
Owners of The Atrium also considered increasing the total number of units in its expanded facility to 249, but scaled back their plans to include a total of 177 units which includes 60 in the proposed addition.
The present plan includes 140 independent living units, 14 assisted living units, and 23 skilled nursing units.
The facility will able to provide sufficient parking on-site, given the zoning board's approval this winter for a plan to convert an empty lot located across the street into a valet parking lot and to make use of another empty lot just south of Riverview Towers, which had formerly held a Salvation Army facility.
"Over the years this application has improved upon itself," contended Karl Pehnke, a traffic engineer testifying on behalf of the project.
Zoning board member Kevin Moss said the facility "has been a good community neighbor," even getting Riverview Towers to withdraw its objections.
""They've been agreeable through the application process," Moss said.
Presbyterian Homes at Red Bank, which operates the Atrium, plans to begin construction as soon as it receives commitments for 45 of the 60 proposed units in the addition, as a condition of the financing, explained Charles Mooney, senior vice president for Springpoint Senior Living (the former Presbyterian Homes and Services, the parent company). But it is well on its way with commitments for 31 of the units, he said.
Construction could begin as early as spring 2011 and would take about 18 months, Mooney estimated.
