The March 31 West Windsor Town Council meeting started with an update on a project that has garnered a great deal of attention in recent months: The Cranbury Road bike and pedestrian study. John Kovar, project manager for the study, gave the presentation on behalf of the Louis Berger Group.
Kovar offered an overview of the project and explained that his group would be distributing questionnaires to the public for feedback on the proposal.
Kovar said the goals of the study are to find ways to add biking and walking as a viable option along Cranbury Road, while developing connectors between major destinations in town, in a safe, economical, and environmentally friendly way.
He explained that the project includes Cranbury Road between Route 571 (Princeton Hightstown Road) and the Plainsboro border. “We are looking at adding sidewalk and pedestrian facilities through the entire area, as well as linking shops, parks, schools, and other amenities that will work with the total picture.
“We will be considering minimal impact, medium impact, and high impact alternatives, as well as a multi-use path option off of Cranbury Road. We will look at costs and what permits will be required for each as well. And then we will come up with recommendations.”
Their next step will be outreach. They will hold six team meetings with township staff, as well as two additional public meeting. “The idea,” said Kovar, “is for us to be able to educate the public about constraints such as ADA requirements, and for the public to educate us with regard to deficiencies and issues along Cranbury Road.”
In addition, the Berger Group will look at a dangerous curve in the corridor, adjacent to the Jones residence, where several accidents have occurred, and consider options to make the roadway there safer.
Kovar estimated that the entire proposal would take about five months. That estimate includes the topographical survey, the development of alternatives, correlating the results of the public comment survey, the corridor constraints analysis, and the circulation plan, (all of which are at least partially underway), and then the development of alternatives and reaching out to the public for feedback.
Council member Peter Mendonez asked whether the survey and other aspects of the program can be made electronic, to which township engineer Francis Guzik replied that within a week, an online survey will be available and open to the public to respond. Other documents will be added to the website as they become available.
Members of the public took issue with some aspects of the propsal. Jerry Foster from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, said: “There is a flaw here. You missed the boat from the get-go with one major issue, which is traffic calming. We need to include keeping the traffic down to the speed limit. This would be a huge improvement to whole process.”
Maher responded, “I think we are off to a good start here, not the wrong track. I am sure the consultant will consider it. They are here, hearing you right now.”
Foster noted, “It is an issue of the goal. If all of the alternatives achieve the wrong goal, then they are useless.”
Alison Miller suggested that the Berger Group should “encourage flexibility in thinking so that maybe more than one option can be used depending on which stretch of Cranbury Road is being addressed, as different options may work better along the roadway.”
Resident Bob Jones said that while he and his wife are pleased to have sidewalk and bike paths being considered, “our big issue is not sidewalks or bike paths. Our critical issue is traffic safety and speed enforcement.”
Several other Cranbury Road residents thanked the township for the progress but asked for the utmost speed in starting construction.
Resident Donald Watrous brought up the issue of small speed signs that have been placed on residents’ properties adjacent and near to Cranbury Road.
Maher responded: “According to land use planner Sam Surtees, the signage is illegal. We as a council have been very patient, and your message has been heard. We are spending large sums of money on this project. I take issue with ugly guardrails and distracting signage and would prefer less signage, even when I am running for council. The police have been put on notice that these signs are illegal. They have also been put on notice that more speeding tickets should be issued along Cranbury Road, and we have learned that many of those tickets have been issued to Cranbury Road residents. It is what it is, but the signs should come down.”
Grover Memorial. Township landscape architect Dan Dobromilsky and community development director Pat Ward provided an update on plans for the Grover Memorial. “We have put together an updated budget for the project,” said Dobromilsky. “We anticipate that this memorial will be paid for through donations, without taxpayer money. We need at least $1,900 initially to get the project started.”
“The project has three components. The first is a jetty rock, on which the plaque will be placed. In consultation with the company making the plaque, we decided on the jetty rock, because it is more triangular, and has a flat face.”
“Plus,” added Ward, “We have one in the [Ron Rogers] arboretum currently, so we will utilize the one the township already owns.”
Two plaques, one 14 by 18 inches and one 18 by inches, and several sizes and styles of flagpole are under consideration.
“These two components should be completed by Memorial Day, if the Council can agree this week on which plaque and which flagpole to utilize. We will send you a mock-up of the jetty-rock and the plaque in both sizes,” Dobromilsky said.
“Finally,” he said, “at a previous council meeting, we discussed the idea of replacing the Grover farm sign that was once there. We can use either wood or plastic composite, which is more durable, for the sign. I recommend the plastic composite. It looks exactly like wood and lasts a lot longer. This aspect will probably not be completed by Memorial Day, but should be completed in the near future.”
Noted Ward, “Donations can be made to the Friends of West Windsor Open Space (FOWWOS), which is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations are fully tax deductible, and funds will go first to fund the plaque, then the flag pole, then the sign. I will be reaching out to the Grover family, the Lions Club, veterans groups, and others, to be fundraising in earnest for this project.”
A third project, the revision of a township ordinance relating to the rental rates for Schenck Farmstead, was also on the agenda.
Resident John Church asked whether there will be an exception to the general township ordinances that prohibit the consumption of alcohol on township property.
Maher responded, “Herbert and Surtees have reviewed the township ordinances, and both agreed that there is an exception to alcohol ordinances because the events being held at Schenck Farm will not be sporting events, but private functions like weddings.”
Resident Pete Weale asked about the reporting of rental income.
Said Samonte: “There will be a monthly accounting and careful record-keeping.”
Added Maher: “The checks will be going straight to the township, not to the group running the Schenck Farm. If you have noticed, the Council hasn’t signed off on a lease agreement with them yet because of some outstanding issues.”
Council also took action on another Schenck Farmstead issue by unanimously approving an agreement with Superior Exhibits and Design Inc. for the fabrication and delivery of furnishings and hardware for the environmental education exhibition at the Schenck Farmstead Barn, at a cost of $41,770.
Council also authorized payment to Public Service Electric and Gas (PSEG) for the relocation of several utility poles as part of the Alexander Road Improvements and Old Bear Brook Road Closure Project, in the amount of $50,543. Business Administrator Marlena Schmid noted that the work would begin next week. Geevers noted that this payment is funded entirely from the developers’ fund, not taxpayer money.
The Council also unanimously approved the reappointment of Jen Ping Wang as a member of the Affordable Housing Committee to serve a three-year term; and the reappointment of Barbara Ingram-Edmonds, Razia Sayed, and Jenny Lee to the Human Relations Council, each to serve a two-year term; as well as the reappointment of John W. Hartmann as public defender for a one-year term.
The Council also authorized the municipal endorsement of the application of Kevin C. Appelget for membership in the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association.
Schmid announced that the township had hired two part-time senior bus drivers.
Borek thanked the county for roadwork improvements which have recently been completed in front of Maurice Hawk Elementary School, which included the installation of safety signs and lighting, similar to that which already exists in front of Dutch Neck Elementary School.
Finally, an inquiry as to the status of the request for proposal (RFP) for the township attorney position led to a moment of conflict when Schmid replied that council would not see it before it was sent out. “The RFP was a council idea,” Geevers said, “and we should at least be able to review it and make comments.”
The issue was quickly resolved. In a later interview Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh explained: “I always intended on letting the council review the RFP before it went out, and in fact I have already sent it to them. I think this was simply a miscommunication between me and Marlena. There will also be a review panel to evaluate the responses, and I intend to ask a member of council to serve on the panel as well.”
The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. In addition, Mayor Hsueh will hold a State of the Township Address on Monday, April 7, at 7 p.m. All residents are invited to attend.
