Staying the course was the message Plainsboro mayor Peter Cantu delivered to attendees of the networking breakfast held at College Road East-based Munich Reinsurance on April 21. The event was organized by the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Plainsboro Business Partnership (PBP).
“A great asset of Plainsboro is the outstanding business support here,” Cantu said.
In addition to maintaining the township’s financial strength, Cantu reiterated his pride in Plainsboro’s balanced community planning.
New additions to the township include the planned arrival of Panera Bread and Five Guys at Plainsboro Village Center. The township is also preparing the installation of “Welcome to Plainsboro” signage for motorists.
Cantu listed transportation and affordable housing as two future challenges for the township.
“The state really hasn’t addressed the long-term transportation needs,” said Cantu, primarily referring to traffic congestion on Route 1. In addition, with the expected elimination of NJ Transit’s 655 bus route between Princeton and the University Medical Center at Plainsboro, Cantu said the township is working with Middlesex County, Princeton, and the hospital to address mass transit gaps.
Cantu also criticized the state’s affordable housing dilemma. The township is working to understand the requirements that are expected to be overseen by the judiciary.
Special recognition was given to township’s recreation department, and department director Lenny Celluro, who assumed the position in 2013, was present to accept the honor. The department is collaborating with PBP and the Princeton Chamber to host the Plainsboro Business Showcase on Tuesday, June 23.
The 1st Constitution Bank was awarded the Large Business of the Year award for its involvement in the community, including support for the WW-P Education Foundation and the Plainsboro Library.
The Small Business of the Year award was given to Crown of India, which was purchased by the Chrai family several years ago.
“This restaurant has been part of Plainsboro for more than 20 years,” said Brian Chrai. “Our goal is to continue to be an active member of the community.”
Plainsboro Update. As mentioned above, new restaurants may be added to the Plainsboro Village Center. According to township director of planning and zoning Les Varga, Sharbell Building Company submitted a site plan to build a one-story commercial building on a corner parcel at the Village Center. A marketing sign currently sits on the proposed site, which would have more than 10,000 square feet of retail space subdivided into four tenant spaces.
Panera Bread has signed a lease with Sharbell to anchor the proposed building, while Five Guys has signed a letter of intent.
The Planning Board reviewed the concept plan favorably at its March 16 meeting. Varga says the site plan is under review and expects a review by the Planning Board around July.
In other news, the Planning Board also favorably reviewed an application for a cemetery at its April 20 meeting. According to Varga, the 12-acre Princeton Abbey Cemetery project will be an extension of the existing cemetery at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Seminary off Mapleton Road.
The new project is being developed and operated by CMS Mid-Atlantic Inc., based in Pittsburgh, and the site will be open to the public. The township committee will review the site plan at the May 13 meeting. Committee approval is required, as the township rezoned the entire 44-acre seminary campus into an educational and cultural arts zone and a cemetery zone in 2010.
The Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent de Paul, known as the Vincentians, own the remaining 32 acres of the seminary campus, which is managed by New York-based construction management firm DBI Inc.
The French American School of Princeton is the master lessee at 75 Mapleton Road. The departure of the Wilberforce School, alongside the recent bankruptcy filing by the American Boychoir School, raises the prospect of a new school moving in.
