Zoners to hear testimony on contested development
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled to hear more testimony tonight on an application to build 90 age-restricted units in an area zoned for single-family homes.

Residents jam-packed the last hearing, forcing many to stand up or stand outside the chambers as Arbor Ventures, the developer, sought permission to build the units.

Residents argue the plan is too dense because it calls for so many units in a relatively small area of property, about 7.5 acres. They also feel the increased traffic would be an unfair burden on local residents already overcome with traffic nightmares. In addition, they feel the large buildings would be out of character with the single-family look of the neighborhood.

The plan has been changed since the first board hearing in May. Now, all 90 units would be in what are called buildings A, B and C. Previously, Arbor planned to put a handful of units in a building also used for the clubhouse. Also, the number of parking spots - a bone of contention with the board - has been increased from 186 to 198.

Regardless, residents still are not happy. Arbor Ventures is seeking the use variance to build the age-restricted units. Contrary to the signs posted at most area homes, no actual zoning change is being requested or considered.

Joseph Behrman, a resident of Mayfield Court, said allowing the units on Ryders Lane would generate even more traffic to an area already overburdened.

"We're highly upset about the amount of traffic 90 units will generate," he said.

Compounding the problem is the fact that county does not allow certain turns into or out of the development, meaning residents there will be forced to use the small residential street Guernsey Lane, according to Paul Manowitz, another resident fighting the proposal.

"A large percentage will exit and enter via Guernsey," Behrman said.

He also disputed Arbor Ventures' claims about how the units will all be age-restricted. Research done by the residents shows that, under federal law, 20 percent of the units can be sold without any age restriction, while 80 percent can have only one occupant who is 55 years of age or older.

Behrman said that opens the door for many school-age children to move in and cause the kind of strain on schools and school taxes Arbor Ventures says it is trying to avoid.

Manowitz said residents have a petition with about 200 signatures and have tried to submit it to the Zoning Board, as well as the Township Council. Citing legal standards, neither body will accept the petition, which includes signatures from residents in a multitude of nearby streets, including Guernsey Lane, Ryders Lane, Tall Oaks Drive, Dunhams Corner Road, Mayair Court, Surrey Lane and Stockton Street, he said.

Though residents have not hired an attorney, they are getting help from two lawyers who are among those displeased with the proposal. Also providing help is the son of a man in the affected area.

The residents have hired professionals to dispute the claims made by Arbor Ventures. Manowitz said residents will provide testimony from a planner and traffic expert.

Scheduled to testify at tonight's meeting is a traffic expert hired by Arbor Ventures, as well as the township's traffic expert.

Residents are also awaiting answers to some questions they leveled at Arbor Ventures during the last meeting.

One problem both residents and the board had with the proposal is the amount of parking spots. It is believed that Arbor is downplaying the need for more parking spots. During the last meeting, one of Arbor Ventures' experts, engineer Ernest Feist, said he felt the units would average only 1.5 vehicles, due to occupants' ages.