CLARK — On Monday night, Clark Township Councilmen Steven Hund and Jimmy Minniti moved a resolution to authorize the township’s planning board to investigate the current development at 52-56 Westfield Avenue.

Back in 2021, the Clark Planning Board approved an application for a four-story apartment building (comprised of 12 affordable-housing units and 63 market-rate ones), to be built at the former A&P site.

Mayor Sal Bonaccorso stressed that the township has been waiting for construction to begin, and commented Monday that he feels the delay is now preventing other projects from using the space.

“It’s another area that’s going to be holding up development and creation of downtown Clark,” he said. “I think we all as citizens agree that it’s an eyesore down there; it is horrible to look at each and every day.”

Mayor Bonaccorso hopes the investigation will determine whether the previously-approved project will move forward or if the space will need to be opened to a new developer.

The mayor went on to note that it could still take years to fully develop the site, which may be problematic given the township’s current and future affordable-housing obligations. Citizens of Clark, many of whom have stressed the need to move forward with downtown development, also have complained about the site’s current run-down state.

“It’s ridiculous down there, an eyesore, and it needs to go,” said Mayor Bonaccorso.

John Greaves, who is a 2024 candidate for township council, addressed the governing body during public comment to ask whether the investigation could lead to potential litigation with the existing developer.

He cited an online interaction on Facebook that took place between Mayor Bonaccorso and a resident last month, noting that the mayor had initially expressed concerns about opening an investigation due to potential legal consequences.

“What changed, and how might we protect the town?” Mr. Greaves asked. Mayor Bonaccorso stated that he recalled the conversation on Facebook but did not remember exactly what was said.

He said he believes that the planning board’s approval was still valid at the time of the online conversation, but that approval has since lapsed now that the project has crossed the three-year mark without advancement.

“Now that they lost that, it’s an area we’re looking at,” he said.