The Master Plan of the Township of West Windsor calls for a change in zoning for six homes, turning them from residential to professional/residential. On July 26, the Planning Board debated, but did not act on, an ordinance that could result in an irreversible change for a neighborhood on Village Road West, featuring six homes with backyards abutting Mercer County Community.
“Why change the pristine sylvan character of this neighborhood because of the nature of its location by introducing a business on that street?,” said Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardener. “People may feel they’re protecting the interests of the homeowners, but it would negatively impact those homeowners.”
The neighborhood in question consists of six lots totaling over seven acres, located near the intersection of Quaker Bridge Road and Village Road West. Homeowners in the affected tract of land include Robert and Susan Gresavage, William Krinsky, Cezar and Carmen Mateiescu, and Anthony and Susan Scafidi.
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, who is a member of the Planning Board, said, “According to the Master Plan, we need to allow the residential housing units to be changed to business purposes. We try to comply with master plan recommendations, but in this case we might not before we understand the intent of the property owners.”
The ordinance originated because the township’s master plan calls for similar zoning in lots of close proximity. A large undeveloped lot across the street is zoned for professional use. The ordinance review committee drafted the language for the zoning change, but the Planning Board decided not to act on it.
“We instructed the land use officer to communicate with the homeowners and ascertain if that’s something they would prefer,” said Gardner.
Township Land Use Manager Sam Surtees sent a letter to the owners of the homes asking them to contact him with questions and reactions to the ordinance. According to Robert Gresavage, a 22-year resident, “the letter said they’re not going to do anything until they hear from the residents. I just want to ask them what the advantages would be for us. Not for them, but for us?”
Also on the agenda for that meeting will be three ordinances that received the Planning Board’s approval. The largest of the three lots in question is a tract on Route 571 near the intersection of Old Trenton Road. The zoning in this district was changed to make way for construction of a fitness center.
“This promotes economic development yet it limits environmental and traffic impacts that would be inured to the township under the existing zone,” said Gardner. “Right now, the only taxing the township can do is on the value of the land. That is minimal in comparison to what it will be when it is developed. If a business comes here, it will increase the value of the land, and that will lessen impact for taxpayers.”
Two residential neighborhoods will now be able to convert to offices. The area situated between Old Bearbrook, Bearbrook, and Alexander Roads is 9.8 acres, and consists of 12 homes, five of which have already converted to offices. Each of those homeowners had to get a variance approval to make the change. This is a difficult and time-consuming process, and any homeowners who wish to convert in the future will not face the same challenge.
Another residential area making a similar change is northeast of the intersection of Route 571 and Rabbit Hill Road. There currently stands a 4,000 square foot office building that started construction years ago but has never been completed. Now homes in the area can convert to 100 percent office space.
