Town may reconsider Harts Lane rezoning
Developer wants to build 400 senior housing units
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - The Township Council is considering rezoning a 41-acre property on Harts Lane to allow for age-restricted housing.

The property, owned by developer M. Alfieri Co. Inc., of Edison, abuts both Harts and Tices lanes, and is currently zoned to allow uses such as warehouses, factories, truck terminals and offices.

Alfieri has asked the township to change the zone to allow conditional residential uses. When he made the same request in 2006, the Planning Board recommended that the township make the zone change, but the Township Council at that time denied it, saying the plan was too dense for the area.

During Monday night's meeting, Councilman Donald Klemp recommend putting the zone change back on the agenda for a vote, though the plan to develop the area with age-restricted units has not changed much, if at all, from last year.

Council President Nancy Pinkin told the Sentinel the proposal is for a senior community of about 400 housing units.

Pinkin said she supports the zone change, in part because she would rather see homes built there instead of warehouses.

She said the owner has had problems selling the land, which is largely wooded and hilly, because modern warehouses are too large to fit on the property. It is not that the land is small, but its topography is not conducive to large, sprawling warehouses.

Former Republican Councilman Anthony Riccobono spoke during Monday's public portion, saying the council should not change the zoning. He said the owner does not face a hardship regarding the property, so there is no need to change anything.

He also dislikes the idea of building so many residential units.

"This was wrong in 2006 and it's wrong now," he told the Sentinel after the meeting.

Riccobono said the township must be careful because a judge could rule that the change amounts to "spot zoning." If so, neighboring properties could be considered contiguous and therefore be developed the same way, bringing in even more residential units.

"You're talking about a great amount of property," Riccobono said.

Mayor William Neary said that although development of Alfieri's property would bring in more people and traffic, it would also lead to more tax revenue, which the township needs.

"Senior housing is a desirable ratable," Neary said.

Developer Michael Alfieri has told officials that he has had a hard time maximizing the value of the property, Neary said.

Planning Board Attorney Lawrence Sachs previously told the council that the land in question does not fit in with the rest of the zone and that it has no open space value. He said a senior community could also include some affordable housing units.

Some other age-restricted developments discussed recently in East Brunswick have failed to come to fruition thus far.

A developer is hoping to build a 90-unit age-restricted community on 7.5 acres at Ryders Lane and Guernsey Lane. However, the builder has been met with staunch opposition from residents during ongoing hearings before the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Several years ago, the township rezoned a tract on Main Street to allow for age-restricted homes, but they were never built. Also, Toll Brothers was at first expected to build age-restricted housing at the Golden Triangle, Route 18, but the plans were changed to regular housing.