Developers have been hard at work adding to the lovely character of our town. Out with the old, in with the new. So what if pretentious two-family McMansionettes are out of scale on a 50'x100' lot, clash with existing housing stock, and require ripping into the Palisades to shoehorn them in? That's what buyers want! And Nancy Merse and her fellow Democrats aren't going to disappoint them, even if it means quality-of-life issues for everyone else.

Intersection of Undercliff and Orchard. Maybe try walking on the other side of the street. If you can.

Edgewater has a well thought out Master Plan and zoning ordinances that ostensibly prohibit structures like these. Unfortunately, the Zoning and Planning Boards choose to ignore them. Also, it is not unheard of for a developer to build a non-conforming structure without getting a variance or to build in excess of variances it received. The Edgewater Building Department doesn't enforce the law.

The pretty house on the left belongs to Jack Bredin, a long time resident who paints local scenes, preserving on canvas what's destroyed in reality. Jack is moving and his house is toast.

Another impassable sidewalk. This was the site of the Kleiser House, a historically significant structure that was demolished December 2007 despite vigorous efforts to save it. The developer also owns the Edgewater Democratic Organization HQ and allows them to use it rent-free.

No Parking signs like this are common in front of construction. The Police Chief stated at a council meeting that these signs have no legal effect. The zoning ordinance covering this property prohibits structures whose highest point is more than 38 feet above ground level. This house, which is closer to 50 feet, required a variance. Designed without regard for setbacks, greenery, and impervious coverage, it overwhelms the house next door.

Check it out! This construction site at the top of Hudson Ave., across from the Library, has blocked the sidewalk for weeks. Pedestrians have to walk in the middle of the road if they cannot squeeze between the fence and parked cars. The fence, which keeps curious children out of hazardous construction sites, is an anomaly. Few projects use one.

This eyesore is the right-of-way for a gas pipeline climbing the steep slope up to Fort Lee. Unfortunately, its location and elevation make it highly visible. The town has not asked the pipeline company to landscape the site with suitable vegetation.

Edgewater was recently named a Tree City. The standards are so lax that developers can cut down 100 trees for every one the town plants and Edgewater still qualifies. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, note the two homes. One fits its lot and has space for landscaping. The other fills its lot with impervious cover.

This can be any day in Edgewater. Hulking two-family house under construction, blocking the sidewalk; a completed one two lots down; and, an older one squeezed between them. Incidentally, the "Myrtle Avenue Preservation Committee," whose purview was expanded to encompass all of Edgewater after the mayor realized that limiting its focus to HER street didn't look good, reported that other towns do not permit two-family homes on 50'x100' lots.

© 2008 Independent Coalition for a Better Edgewater