You can’t fight city hall, the old adage goes. But a group of Plainsboro residents are trying to do just that, and–perhaps increasing the difficulty–the city hall they are fighting is not in their own town, but in South Brunswick.##M:[more]##
The Plainsboro residents, most of whom live in the Princeton Collection development, are concerned about an application for a use variance filed by Bevcon Group Inc. regarding its property on 12 Perrine Road, fronting on Plainsboro Road. Bevcon Group, an alcoholic beverage distribution company, seeks to use the property as a warehouse, but had to file the application because the property is presently zoned for office/research. A hearing on the application has been scheduled for Thursday, September 6 at 7:45 p.m.
What makes Bevcon’s application different from others is that although the subject property is in South Brunswick Township, it is just a few hundred feet from Plainsboro. Some Princeton Collection residents fear that such a change in the nature of the property could bring about an increase in truck traffic, noise, and pollution.
Subrahamanya Ramakrishnan, a Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory engineer and three year resident of Princeton Collection, feels that the concerns of Plainsboro residents may have been ignored by the applicants.
“The unfortunate aspect,” Ramakrishnan says, “is that Perrine Road is the dividing line between Plainsboro Township and South Brunswick Township. We feel that a blind eye has been turned to this township.” (See letter, page 2).
Adithya Bathena, whose family owns the property, believes that the residents’ fears are unfounded. According to Bathena, residents can expect no more than one delivery to the site per week and no more than two to three trucks leaving the property with goods. “Our intent is not to disturb any of the residents, but we want to be able to use the building,” he explains, adding that his company bought the property in 2005 specifically because it had previously been used as a warehouse.
Ramakrishnan is unconvinced by Bevcon’s assurances about the low volume of truck traffic to and from the facility. “We are afraid that it will start with one truck and that soon it will be more,” he argues.
Ron Schmalz, public affairs coordinator for South Brunswick, chose to remain neutral on the issue while Bevcon’s application is still pending.
“It is difficult for the township to say anything before it goes before the Zoning Board,” Schmalz said, noting that the hearing is open to the public, and that all interested parties will be afforded the opportunity to voice their concerns.
Ramakrishnan and many of his neighbors plan on attending the hearing and arguing against the use variance. They hope to prove that you can fight city hall after all.
