With $60,”000 left in township coffers for redevelopment-related work, Township Administrator Chris Marion is compiling proposals from professionals for their continued work on a plan for the 350-acre Princeton Junction train station redevelopment area.##M:[more]##
At the same time, those professionals, including township planner John Madden, are expected to present their ideas for moving the process forward to the Planning Board at its meeting on Wednesday, October 24.
Professionals who have submitted proposals include the traffic consultant, planning consultant, Planning Board attorney, one new proposal from a financial consultant, Integra, and six proposals from redevelopment attorneys, Marion said.
The council will have to introduce and adopt a bond ordinance by the end of the year to ensure the funds are available to pay the consultants. Township Chief Financial Officer Joanne Louth said she believes the council would have to introduce the bond ordinance at its November 26 meeting and adopt it during its December 17 meeting.
Marion estimated at the meeting that the township would need about $150,”000 to $200,”000 to continue the process.
Based upon the process outlined at the October 24 meeting, township officials will have to go back to redevelopment planning consultant RMJM Hillier, to see what worked still needs to be performed in its existing contract. In the contract with Hillier, so far $165,”000 has been paid out, Marion said, and that money took the township through the public workshops. Going forward, officials will have to look at what has been billed to date, what’s left for the firm to do and how that meets the current contract (the total contract is for $330,”000), or whether or not the contract would have to be amended as a result.
Marion said, though, that township officials believe that the contract would not have to be amended for any additional money. Rather, it would amend what the firm would be expected to do as the process moves forward.
During the council’s October 15 meeting, council members raised questions about what criteria and what expectations they had of a redevelopment attorney, but decided to bring a list of those criteria and expectations to the council’s November 13 meeting. They will also be choosing a substitute council representative to the Planning Board during a meeting on Monday, October 22 since Councilman Charles Morgan — the current representative — cannot attend.
Councilwoman Linda Geevers also said that six residents have applied for the public member’s seat on the redevelopment finance committee and that council members hope to start interviewing them in the next week or two.
Two council members — Council President Will Anklowitz and Geevers — said they both agreed whatever redevelopment plan is presented, it can’t be grandiose. But both also agreed that the entire 350-acre site declared redevelopment site must be considered.
Anklowitz said the feedback he is getting is that there needs to be a comprehensive plan for the 350 acres, but he doesn’t want to “see this thing go flying off,” a reference to the recommendation for 1,”000 residential units. But he did say “if you look at the office buildings on Route 571, some of them look a little tired.”
“There’s got to be a Main Street there,” he said. “571 is where it is, and that’s where Main Street should be.”
Geevers said she believes the council made it clear that the 1,”000 units was not going to happen, but that once discussions begin, she feels a consensus on the redevelopment might come more easily.
“We don’t want to overwhelm ourselves with traffic; we don’t want to overwhelm ourselves with extra school children,” she said. “I just want the discussions to begin and hopefully we’ll get to where we want to be.”
In other business during the meeting, Robert A. Bartolini from Stony Brook Regional Sewage Authority brought the council up to date on how the township’s rates are calculated. The authority also noted that the township should look into enacting a better grease trap ordinance, because a lot of grease — particularly coming from restaurants on Route 1 — has been building up in the township’s pipes, and could cause miscalculations in the township’s rates.
During public comment, former mayor Bob Murray told the council that brush and debris around town was excessive and unsightly.
Ken Carlson, president of the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, suggested that parts of the township that could use crosswalks, including the intersection of Norchester Drive and Clarksville Road and where the bicycle trail from Community Park to Rabbit Hill Road ends. He said a child was hit by a car at the Clarksville Road intersection and that he thought a crosswalk might help drivers be more attentive.
Resident Pete Weale read a letter from a former president of the Friends of West Windsor Open Space written in 1997 that made some suggestions regarding illegal signs around the township 10 years ago. That letter suggested officials take down advertising signs immediately and that political signs be removed by the candidates or residents the day after the election.
