While the construction of the township’s new library and groundbreaking at the hospital site off Route 1 dominated the headlines for Plainsboro in 2008, Mayor Peter Cantu highlighted numerous other accomplishments, and mentioned new projects — including a possible transit program in the township — that he would also like to see come to fruition this year.
Cantu, who began his 35th year serving on the Township Committee, was appointed by the other members of the committee to his 29th year as mayor during the Township Committee’s reorganization meeting on January 5. Neil Lewis, who entered his 15th year on the committee, was appointed again as deputy mayor.
During his annual report, Cantu said he was pleased with the progress of construction at the new library, which began at the end of 2007. The building has risen, and windows for the library are expected to be installed shortly.
With regard to the hospital redevelopment project on the former FMC site, Cantu said that a great deal of time was spent this year on the redevelopment agreement with Princeton Healthcare Systems. The Planning Board gave site plan approval just for the hospital building itself, which calls for completion by 2011. However, the redevelopment agreement approved in May sets the completion date for the hospital component at December 31, 2013. The whole project consists of the medical center component, which includes a hospital/medical office portion, a continuing care retirement facility, a general office research center, the skilled nursing facility, and the public park. The board also later approved a site plan for the skilled nursing facility on site.
The hospital will consist of approximately 636,”000 square feet, 243 private patient rooms, state-of-the-art emergency services, operating suites and a variety of ambulatory services and laboratories. Subsequent development would provide an additional 324,”000 square feet to be used for more than 100 additional private patient rooms and expanded hospital services and physician offices.
Said Cantu: “It was critically important to Plainsboro Township that when we did it, we did it right — that we looked at the implication and impacts of the hospital and redevelopment area on Plainsboro and that we took into consideration the economic viability of this project to the community. We looked at impacts on transportation, affordable housing, and I’m delighted to say that the redevelopment project, I think, will be an asset not only to Plainsboro but to the whole region.”
Cantu also said he was pleased with the township’s acquisition of the 80-acre Bulk Farm (see story page 15) and the township’s recognition in Fortune Small Business Magazine’s Top 100 Places to Live and Launch. Plainsboro came in at number 52, and the article cites good transportation infrastructure and great schools.
The township also launched a study this year to look at the possibility of shared dispatched services with the county and three other communities. Officials have applied for a state grant to assist with the study and put together a feasibility plan for it. The township also concluded its 12th year in leading a joint purchasing co-op.
Plainsboro sent its fair share plan to the state Council on Affordable Housing before the December 31 deadline, and while many municipalities have labored to come up with new fair share plans, Plainsboro’s affordable housing practices over the years may have made it much easier to deal with its originally projected growth share of 445 units, Cantu said. “We were able to employ a number of credits and bring forth a project plan that will meet the state requirements and at the same time, will not be a negative impact on Plainsboro Township,” Cantu said.
Also in 2008, one of the main focuses, like in previous years, was financial responsibility, Cantu said. “We again have the highest bond rating in the county and the lowest municipal tax rate in Middlesex County, and that’s reflective of the efforts we put in over the years of strong fiscal management,” Cantu said. “Also, it’s a remarkable number in today’s environment. We have a 99.44 percent tax collection rate, and this is critically important to the community because it helps lower your bonding costs, and I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have at least a 99 percent collection rate in Plainsboro. This is particularly noteworthy considering the economic conditions right now in the state.”
Cantu also noted the township’s receipt of a NJ Future Smart Growth award recognizing its Town Center project, the township’s receipt of a $5,”000 Safe Sidewalks to Transit grant, and Novo Nordisk’s expansion into a 170,”000 square-foot facility here.
“More importantly, they have decided to make a long term commitment here, and are working to develop plans for a significant further expansion in the future,” Cantu added.
Cantu also recognized the graduation of more than 60 students from the police department’s youth academy classes, and the expansion of the Plainsboro Watch program, which grew from 404 members to 505. Three emergency management drills were conducted in 2008, and $130,”000 was granted to the township from various agencies to support this effort.
On the recreational front, the township embarked this past year on a junior park ranger program, and is helping the recreation department plan for the use of the existing library building once the new one is complete. Cantu also said he was excited that Bristol Meyers Squibb sponsored a program called “America, New Home,” which reaches out to the immigrant population in the community to help assimilate it into the community.
With regard to public works, township employees also worked hard this year to install lights on the soccer fields in township parks, and the township also embarked on the first of its five-year maintenance plan. He also pointed to two road projects that were completed this year — improvements at the Plainsboro Road and Edgemere Avenue intersection as well as at the intersection of Scudders Mill and Dey roads. The $2.7 million project, 75 percent of which was funded by the county, included a realignment of the intersection, new traffic signals, and additional lanes. A left turn lane was added eastbound on Scudders Mill Road, and a right turn lane was added southbound on Dey Road.
All together, the township received $3.4 million in grants and funding for community parks and road improvements from the county in 2008, Cantu said.
Cantu said township officials are hoping that the acquisition of the 2.5-acre Schmidt property on Plainsboro Road adjacent to the Princeton Meadows golf course will come to fruition in 2009. He said he would also like to see expansion of the township’s joint purchasing and shared services programs and green initiatives. Township officials will also be working on completing the Master Plan update and will be seeking final plan endorsement this year.
Two more road projects — the resurfacing of Plainsboro and George Davidson roads — are also on board for this year, and the township will be working with the West Windsor Soccer Association toward the irrigation of the soccer fields in Plainsboro. “They’ve offered financial support, and we’re hopeful of moving forward with that this year,” Cantu said. He also said the township is working with the county to expand the trail systems this year at the 1,”000-acre Plainsboro Preserve.
Township officials are also looking for state funding in developing a local transit plan for Plainsboro (see story below), Cantu said. And Plainsboro will also continue to focus on receiving grants and funding from other entities. In 2008, the township received $6.5 million in grant support, much of it coming from Middlesex County.
Appointments. In other business during the January 5 reorganization meeting, appointments to various committees and boards were announced.
For the mayor’s appointments, Township Administrator Robert Sheehan was appointed to a one-year term on the Community Development Block Grant Committee, expiring on December 31, 2009. Dr. Janhavi Rane and Paul O’Brien were each appointed to three-year terms on the Human Relations Council, expiring on December 31, 2011. Aneesha Raghunathan and Joshua Levy were appointed as teen representatives to the Human Relations Council. Both of their terms expire on December 31, 2009.
Howard Becker was appointed to a five-year term on the Library Board of Trustees. Cantu appointed himself and Brian Stevens (as school district representative) to one-year terms on the Library Board of Trustees.
Patricia Hullfish was appointed as a Class II member of the Planning Board for a one-year term. Cantu appointed Township Committeeman Nuran Nabi to the Public Assistance Board for a one-year term.
The Township Committee also approved its appointments. Committeeman Michael Weaver and Sheehan were appointed to one-year terms on the Cable TV Advisory Committee. Joanne Lupica was appointed to a one-year term on the Community Development Block Grant Committee. Maureen Judd-van Eerd and Theodore M. Williams were appointed to three-year terms on the Environmental Advisory Committee. Dolores Corona was appointed to a three-year term on the Housing Agency.
Committeeman Ed Yates was appointed as a Class III member of the Planning Board for 2009. Lavinia Kumar, Arthur Lehrhaupt, and Robert Kasuba were appointed for four-year terms on the Planning Board. Prakash Sachdev was appointed as Alternate 1, a two-year term on the Planning Board.
Clifford Hochberg was reappointed for a one-year term as the Town Crier. Craig Ross and Lachman Udeshi were each appointed three-year terms on the Shade Tree Advisory Committee. Arthur Lehrhaupt and Werner Schmid were each appointed to four-year terms on the Zoning Board.
