Members of the Red Bank Zoning Board of Adjustment have approved an application to convert a vacant building on Monmouth Street into a brewery and residential space.
The building was the former home of Fameabilia, a store that sold movie and sports memorabilia.
Testimony regarding Phoenix of Matawan Inc.’s application to convert the building into a mixed-use space was presented during a zoning board meeting on May 16.
The address of the building is 42 Monmouth St.
According to testimony, the existing one-story retail space would be converted into a 3,000-square-foot brewery, with an additional 1,500 square feet reserved for a restaurant retail use. A second floor would be added to the building and contain two two-bedroom apartments.
The applicant was seeking preliminary and final site plan approval, with variances, to convert the existing one-story retail use into two retail tenant spaces.
Initially, the application proposed the construction of two additional floors and four apartments. However, the professionals who represented the applicant reduced the proposal to one additional floor with two apartments.
According to a legal notice that was published prior to the meeting, variances were needed for minor site improvements to the existing parking. Several bulk variances were also required, among them a proposal for eight eight parking spaces where 25 parking spaces were required; and lot coverage of 100% proposed, where a maximum of 65% is permitted.
Regarding the proposed 1,500-square-foot retail space, attorney Rick Brodsky, who represented the applicant, said, “Unfortunately, a (possible) user has dropped out” and there is no tenant for that space at the present time.
Answering questions posed by Brodsky, Florin Lupu, the president of Phoenix of Matawan, said providing the residential component is important because “we feel like we bring life after the businesses close down and go home.”
Architect Lawrence Johnson, who represents the applicant, said the future two-story building would have top crown molding, balconies and a brick facade on three sides.
Brodsky said four of the eight parking spaces proposed at the property would be reserved for tenants of the two apartments.
During her testimony, professional planner Christine Cofone said, “residential density is like espresso for the downtown,” and added that multi-use spaces “reinvigorate” business districts.
Board member Anne Torre made a motion to approve the application, which was seconded by Eileen Hogan. On a roll call, Torre, Hogan, Raymond Mass, Sean Murphy, Sharon Lee, Christine Irwin and Matthew Anderson voted “yes” to approve the Phoenix of Matawan application.
