Board begins hearings on Summerhill Square Developer describes proposal for a new ‘lifestyle center’ BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer EAST BRUNSWICK — A developer seeking to replace the Meyer’s Shopping Center with upscale shops has begun making its case before the township Planning Board. Pagano Real Estate Inc., which plans to redevelop the mostly vacant Route 18 plaza, began testifying before the board Oct. 28, with the firm’s owner, Robert Pagano, and engineer James Biegen diverging details much in line with those released during a press conference held outside Meyer’s two weeks earlier. The applicant did discuss some new ideas regarding the proposed subdivision and how the area will be buffered. Pagano seeks to demolish the existing buildings and clear the lot to create what he termed a “lifestyle center.” He described that to mean a retail center with a Main Street feel to it, complete with smaller stores, sidewalks with brick pavers, benches, landscaping and wide sidewalks. There would be a mix of tenants, he said, but no “big box” retailers or discount stores. “That’s not what I am looking to create by any stretch of the imagination,” Pagano said. The shopping center is expected to include up to 20 businesses, including a restaurant. Pagano, who said his Glen Rock-based company has performed similar projects from Atlantic City to North Jersey, said the East Brunswick area attracted him because the population ranks highly in terms of both income and education. The firm is under contract to purchase the site from its longtime owner, the Branciforte family. Pagano sees his proposed shopping center, which would be called Summerhill Square, as a place where people would shop, eat and “grab a cup of coffee.” “It will be the uptown area of East Brunswick, where people want to go to,” he told the Planning Board. Board member Jeannette Tugya asked what the maximum square footage of one of Pagano’s tenants would be. Pagano said the largest would be between 20,000 and 25,000 square feet, the way the plan is designed now. Some of the smaller tenants, such as a possible Starbucks, might be only 2,500 square feet. However, a store such as The Gap might have more square footage because it would bring in additional stores, such as Gap For Kids and Banana Republic. The plans make room for a free-standing pharmacy, which is why a subdivision of the property has been requested, according to Pagano’s attorney, David Himelman. Biegen said that 5 acres of the 18-acre overall property would be set aside for the pharmacy and an existing detention basin. Board member William Schultz asked why the subdivision was needed, and Pagano said he wants the lifestyle center to be separated from the pharmacy. One reason for that is because the tenants in the center would do advertising and other ventures with which a pharmacy would not be involved. Himelman said the site lends itself to a natural division. Pagano also described to some degree what the center would look like. Retailers, he noted, would bring in their own architectural plans but they would be required to blend with the overall theme and feel. A fair amount of glass will be involved, and different elements will be used to create the overall appearance. He said the look will be very “warm and conducive to shopping.” “It’s going to be very upscale,” he said. Biegen also said there would be a 15-foot buffer area along Route 18, whereas there is no buffer now. He said the applicant wants a buffer while still keeping visibility from the highway. There would also be a 15-foot-wide buffer along Summerhill Road. With drivers being able to access the proposed shopping center from both Route 18 and Summerhill Road, Biegen noted that an interesting aspect to the plans is that the back would be made to look like a building front, visible from Summerhill Road. Himelman said the applicant would have more information on whether there would be any significant modifications to the plans, as well as more information on tenants, at the next Planning Board hearing.