Edison Zoning Board Approves Asia Fresh Market, Greenlights Hindu Temple After Heated Debate
Board members voted unanimously to approve both projects, including a new market on Lincoln Highway and a small Hindu temple on Park Avenue, despite divided testimony from residents.
The vacant Route 27 property in Edison where the Asian Fresh Market is expected to open, pending final zoning board approval on October 14. (Source: Google Maps)
October 20, 2025
The Edison Zoning Board of Adjustment approved several applications at its October 14 meeting, including the long-debated Asia Fresh Market on Lincoln Highway, a proposed Hindu temple near the Park Gate condominium complex, and a small home addition for an elderly couple on Churchill Road.
Asia Fresh Market Gets Final Approval
The board opened with a unanimous vote to approve Asia Fresh Market, located at 1829–1837 Lincoln Highway (Route 27), after months of public discussion.
Vice Chair Daniel O’Gorman moved to approve the project, saying it met both positive and negative criteria under state land use law.
The approval includes several restrictions, such as delivery and refuse hours limited between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. for pickups and 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. for deliveries, along with no tractor-trailers permitted on site.
Board Chair Michael Comba added that parking will be restricted to customers of that shopping center only and advised nearby residents to petition the Township Council if they want resident-only parking expanded to 24 hours a day.
The decision marked the end of a contentious process that drew complaints from some neighbors at previous meetings about traffic and parking.
Public Split on Hindu Temple Near Park Gate
The most time-consuming portion of the meeting centered on Sacred Foundation’s plan to open a 2,800-square-foot Hindu temple inside a warehouse on Park Avenue, near the Park Gate Condominiums.
Traffic engineer John Rea testified that the temple would add only about six cars per hour during peak times.
Rea and the Edison Police Department’s safety coordinator recommended restricting Park Gate Drive to exit-only traffic.
Nearly a dozen nearby residents spoke in opposition, citing traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, and parking overflow.
Some warned that the single-gated access road already backs up daily, especially during school pickup and drop-offs. Others raised issues about lighting, noise, and safety, and one resident referenced a nearby mosque on Park Avenue, suggesting the area was already strained by religious traffic.
Several also questioned the applicant’s attendance estimates, citing the organization’s website listing over 600 members, and others worried that the congregation could expand in the future or that tenants might host larger gatherings than allowed.
About as many people spoke up in support of the Vitthal mandir during the meeting.
They described the temple as a quiet, small-scale religious center that would promote “peace and harmony.”
Members of the congregation said the Edison location would save worshippers from long drives to Lyndhurst, where their current space is a converted garage.
A college student and a child also spoke in support, calling the temple “a calm and spiritual place” for families.
After more than 2 hours of testimony, the board voted 5–2 to approve the temple, adding strict conditions:
– No on-site food preparation or service.
– No major events or festivals to be held on the premises.
– All ingress and egress are limited to the south driveway, with no access to Park Gate Drive.
– Compliance with all engineering and planning reports.
– Operating hours limited to 7 a.m.–noon and 4–8 p.m. weekdays, and 7 a.m.–8 p.m. on weekends.
Chair Comba reiterated that any future expansion or special events would require new approval.
Home Addition Approved for Elderly Residents
The board also unanimously approved a small addition at 17 Churchill Road, where homeowner Naneshwat Sawant and his family sought a variance for a first-floor bedroom and accessible bathroom to allow the couple to age in place.
An architect hired by the property owners testified that the addition would increase building coverage slightly to 22.39%, exceeding the 20% limit but posing “no impact to neighbors.”
Vice Chair O’Gorman called the request “a de minimis variance” that met all legal criteria.
The simple nature of the case raises questions about whether the zoning board should be involved in minor property issues or whether a simple township inspection of the plans could be more efficient for the homeowners.
Getting plans before the zoning board could take weeks or even months, costing homeowners time and money.
The next zoning board meeting is scheduled for October 28, 2025.