Politics & Government
Edison Planning Board Member Resigns After Project Approval
Keith Hahn resigned after the board voted to subdivide a single-family lot to build two large homes despite protest from the residents.
EDISON, NJ —Keith Hahn, a member of the Edison Planning Board resigned last week after the board approved a residential lot subdivision, despite protest from residents.
Hahn is also the Republican mayoral candidate. The planning board voted 6-2 to subdivide an existing single-family lot off Plainfield Road to build two five-bedroom homes. The required lot width was 75 feet and the applicant requested a variance for two lots at 62.5 feet to build the 3,500 square feet homes.
The residents of Broad Avenue have been opposing this plan, and at the meeting, they were represented by attorney Kevin Morse.
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“Normally you don't get the entire neighborhood to come out and speak against a project like that,” said Hahn. “So it was just very disheartening to see the board be more concerned with the builders' interest than the residents of Edison or the people's interest.”
Hahn said he was appointed to the Board by Mayor Thomas Lankey. “I spoke to Mayor Lankey. He said he understood, and it was my decision, and he accepted my resignation.”
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Hahn said that another concerning application scheduled to come in front of the Board on June 29 is the development application at the site of the former Charlie Brown's restaurant.
“They want to put 27 condominiums in right at the Charlie Brown's property. And it's not zoned for that. So that's going to require rezoning. Now, I'm going to go to the meeting. I hope the board doesn't allow it,” said Hahn.
“But it's a politically connected builder. And I'm not so certain you're not going to give him what he wants.”
Hahn will be facing Democratic councilman Sam Joshi and Mayor Lankey who’s running as an independent, in the upcoming November general elections.
The planning board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. Click here to attend. The meeting id is 99974016285 and the passcode is 017021.
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