Development

ENGINEERING TESTIMONY – Mitchell Ardman, the engineer for Tahweed Dahwah Center Masjid, testifies at the February 19 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings on a proposal to build a 19,000-square-foot mosque on a 16-acre South Middlebush Road tract resumed on February 19, and all indications are that this will not be a smooth process. The project’s …

EXPLAINING THE SITUATION – Township attorney Lou Rainone explains to an objector why the Council cannot delay approval of five affordable housing-related ordinances at the February 10 meeting. The Township Council on February 10 approved on second reading five ordinances relating to its affordable housing plan, but not without a speed bump. The five ordinances were: 4489-26, which creates inclusionary …

THE NEW PLAN – Jeffrey Haberman explains changes made to the plan for an outdoor storage site on Route 27 at the February 5 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. The second time proved to be the charm February 5 for a company that wants to create an outdoor commercial storage space on Route 27. JC IOS Acquisitions won Zoning Board …

LEADING PLANNING DISCUSSION – Mark Healey, the Township’s Principal Planner, leads the Planning Board in a discussion of the township’s Master Plan at the February 4 Board meeting. Elements for a list of topics related to the township’s Master Plan were discussed at the February 4 Planning Board meeting. Mark Healey, the Township’s Principal Planner, will collate those comments and …

PLAN WITHDRAWN – The property sheet for Rutgers Plaza shows that a lease is pending for the former K-Mart building and attached retail spaces. The owner of Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue has withdrawn a controversial application to build a 4-story apartment building in the footprint of the former K-Mart building. Levin Properties was scheduled to return to the Zoning …

A NEW PLAN – Members of the Township Redevelopment Agency discuss a proposal from a company wishing to finish work in the Renaissance 2000 redevelopment project. The Township Redevelopment Agency hopes to meet later this month with a company that wants to take over the portion of the Renaissance 2000 project not finished by Leewood Development Group. The Agency hopes …

DISCUSSING THE PLAN – Planning Board chairman Michael Orsini leads the January 21 discussion on five ordinances connected to the Township’s Fair Share Housing Plan. The township Planning Board on January 21 moved the township’s proposed affordable housing plan along through a series of technical votes. The votes affirmed the Board’s finding that five projects were consistent with the Township’s …

NEW ORDINANCE REVIEW – Mark Healey, the Township’s principal planner, reviews some of the aspects of the proposed zoning changes to the BI Zone at the January 14 Planning Board meeting. A series of design and location specifications designed to limit where in the township warehouses can be built – and how large they can be – was approved and …

EXPLAINING OPTIONS – Township attorney Lou Rainone explains what options are available to the Township regarding the Williams-Transco NESE pipeline project. The last of the state permits needed for the construction of a $1 billion, multi-state natural gas pipeline project – part of which will come through Franklin – was approved January 12, and was immediately blasted by state environmentalists and …

A handful of ordinances related to the Township’s Affordable Housing Plan were introduced at the January 13 Township Council meeting. The ordinances would create four inclusionary zones and a redevelopment zone in different areas of the township to allow for the affordable housing developments. The Township has received state approval for its plan to provide for 659 affordable housing units …