Judge blocks Edgewater Tower over skyline views and zoning

A Bergen County Superior Court judge suspended building on a high-rise residential tower in Edgewater after Cliffside Park officials claimed it would block Manhattan skyline views and violate local zoning.

Last week’s judgment halts development at 440-458 River Road until an early September hearing. Cliffside Park sued Edgewater and the project’s developer, North Star Partners Associates, in July for ignoring height regulations and neighborhood impact, prompting the suspension.

Building size is the issue. Court documents show the tower will be approximately 166 feet tall, 15 feet taller than Edgewater’s 150-foot zoning restriction. That disparity is a municipal law infraction, according to Cliffside Park officials. As a private homeowner, Mayor Thomas Calabrese argues the enormous construction would impede his view of Manhattan. Town authorities say it might drop property values, restrict natural light, and reduce tax income.

This case covers more than just the current project. Present and past Edgewater building authorities, the borough, and the developer are accused of regularly bending the zoning code to favor politically connected builders. The complaint highlights developer Fred Daibes’ influence over North Star. Daibes was previously lauded for helping Edgewater become a Hudson River “Gold Coast,” but federal charges for bribery and corruption linked to former Sen. Bob Menendez tarnished his reputation. Currently serving seven years in prison.

The controversy highlights Cliffside Park and Edgewater’s longstanding Hudson waterfront development disputes. Luxury real estate has flourished on the Gold Coast, between Bayonne and the George Washington Bridge, for decades. Unchecked construction, especially those that exceed zoning boundaries, threatens neighborhood character and quality of life in adjacent communities, critics say.

Construction is halted until Judge Francis Schultz rules again on September 4. The court will determine whether to prolong the stop-work order or approve the tower project during that session. The Edgewater tower’s future and the Gold Coast’s balance between development and community preservation are undetermined until then.

Sources:

• Bergen County Superior Court filings

• Statements from Cliffside Park officials

• Edgewater Borough zoning regulations

• Public reporting on Fred Daibes’ federal corruption case