West Windsor took a big step toward the redevelopment of downtown Princeton Junction and the surrounding area this week.##M:[more]##
On Wednesday, November 2, the township Planning Board unanimously approved a report by John Madden, township planner, identifying a 350-acre area surrounding the Princeton Junction train station as being in need of redevelopment.
According to Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner, some 30 residents spoke at the public hearing on the report. “The comments were overwhelmingly favorable in regard to the direction we are going. Their major concern was that we make certain developers do not control the project. I reassured them that the developers will not be dictating the terms to the township. We will dictate the way we want to see redevelopment pursued.”
The state Local Redevelopment and Housing Law sets up certain criteria to allow municipalities to designate redevelopment areas that can include public and private parcels. Redevelopment area designation provides officials with tools to spur redevelopment including the use of tax exemptions, favorable bond financing, and the creation of revenue allocation districts.
The redevelopment area identified by Madden includes lands bounded by Little Bear Brook to the north, the township boundary with Plainsboro and the Millstone River to the east, the train tracks and commercial zones to the south, and Alexander Road to the west.
According to Gardner, the next step in the process is for the redevelopment study to be approved by township council. “They will make a decision as to whether the boundaries delineated are appropriate. The report would then be forward to the state Department of Community Affairs and the Office of Smart Growth.”
According to Gardner, the state has 30 days to either reject the report, approve it, or recommend changes. Also, if there is no response, it would automatically be approved. If the report is okayed, says Gardner, council will likely direct the planning board to draft a detailed redevelopment plan.
The funding of development of the plan was raised during he public hearing, Gardner says. “There was a concern that we should not depend on developer money. My response was that a request be made that the Council include $175,”000 in the 2006 capital budget for formulating the plan.”
The township has also filed an application with the Office of Smart Growth for a $175,”000 grant to fund the creation of the plan, says Gardner. “In essence we would not be dependent on any developer money. The direction of the redevelopment plan will follow the areas that the township wants to pursue.”
The creation of the plan would also include the proposal to create a transit village at the train station. Earlier this year, New Jersey Transit released a vision study proposing a transit village on the west side of the train station that mixes commercial, retail, and residential uses.
Gardner points out that the public will be an integral part of the planning process. “This will be an ongoing public dialogue. While the redevelopment plan is being formulated, there will be many opportunities for the public to discuss issues related to the plan.”
He adds that although some proposals may exist, such as the transit village vision study, nothing is written in stone. “People should not presume that because there are statements made by professionals outside the township with respect to how the transit village components should be developed, that the board is accepting or embracing those ideas. We will be listening to everyone’s views and evaluating all the options.”
