In response to Hemant Marathe’s letter (WW-P News, September 13) in which he mentions the Ellsworth application before the Zoning Board, I would like to clarify how land use board applications are processed. The Zoning Board, like all boards and commissions, adheres to the West Windsor Township Master Plan and other legal processes as dictated by the Municipal Land Use Law. There is no official plan for Cranbury Road outside of what is documented in the Master Plan.
Given that Cranbury Road is also a road under the jurisdiction of Mercer County, its own Master Plan requirements can supersede what is outlined by West Windsor Township’s Master Plan. At the present time, municipal staff, in cooperation with Mercer County staff, are looking to fund a professional study that will outline alternative possibilities to provide bicycle and pedestrian facilities along Cranbury Road, together with concept plans and their respective preliminary costs.
Until such a study is completed, the Zoning Board and Planning Board need to go by what exists currently in the Master Plan. Planning studies cannot hold up land use board applications. The Ellsworth application ends at Carlton Place or just beyond. Future capital improvement projects will be connected with what then exists in front of the Ellsworth property should that application be approved and constructed.
M. Patricia Ward
Director, Community Development
