Development

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 …

INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT – John Grib, representing the developer of the proposed storage space, talks about it at the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. The developer of a proposed outdoor storage space on State Route 27 is reviewing its plans after appearing before the Zoning Board of Adjustment on January 8. The reconsideration came after it became apparent that Board …

ENGINEER’S TESTIMONY – Joe Holzapfel testifies about the proposed warehouse on Davidson Avenue at the January 7 Planning Board meeting. A 37,000-square-foot warehouse planned for a site on Davidson Avenue was approved January 7 by the Planning Board. The warehouse will be located behind an existing building housing a light manufacturing business. The new building will hold 35,511 square feet …

MAKING A POINT – Chris Szalay, an engineer for the 14-home project, gestures while he testifies at the January 7 Planning Board meeting. The developer of a proposed 14-unit luxury home community on Cedar Grove Lane was sent back to the drawing board by the Planning Board on January 7. Board members objected to a number of the plan’s elements, …

EXPLAINING THE PROJECT – Engineer Tyler Vandervalk explains the modified proposal for a convenience store/gas station on Elizabeth Avenue at the December 4 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. A proposal to turn a car repair shop into a convenience store at Elizabeth and Cedar avenues ran into heavy flak at the December 4 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. The plan, …

ONE MORE TIME – Engineer Shri Kotdawla talks about the changes made to plans for a retail/office center at New Brunswick Road and Davidson Avenue at the December 3 Planning Board meeting. The third time was the charm for a developer wishing to build a 25,000-square-foot mixed-use retail/office center at the corner of Davidson Avenue and New Brunswick Road. The …

BRIDGE TO BE REPLACED – The Griggstown Causeway bridge is one of two in the township slated to be replaced next year by the state Department of Transportation. State transportation officials are readying plans to replace two bridges in the township, starting next year. The year-long replacement work will be conducted on the Griggstown Causeway and the Chapel Drive bridges …