Former factory site to be replaced by warehouse
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - A lot that once contained an old, abandoned factory will now likely play host to a 481,730-square-foot warehouse.

Presenting the application to the Planning Board June 20, Industrial Developments International (IDI) representatives said that the proposed facility represents the principles of smart growth through its reuse of an old industrial site rather than paving over virgin soil. The site where the warehouse will be built was a factory that had long since been abandoned, the building itself demolished. Its entrance and exit will be on Cranbury South-River Road, with the New Jersey Turnpike to the east and a set of train tracks to the south.

"This represents the conversion of heavy manufacturing use put into a clean, attractive ratable," said the firm's attorney, Glen Pantell.

A concern brought forth by the board was whether the application's approval would affect litigation the township is engaged in with the former owners of the site, which reportedly owes back taxes since 1997. After some discussion, the board's attorney, Benjamin Bucca, and Pantell agreed that it would not.

"Pending tax litigation in no way should affect this board's ability to hear this application," said Pantell.

The building will have two small office components on the site in addition to the standard warehouse space. To accommodate workers, there will be 100 loading docks and 201 parking spaces, most of which will be located toward the front of the facility.

The firm's traffic engineer, Dan Disario, said the warehouse should not adversely impact traffic in the area because the amount generated is about the same as the amount the factory there used to create. Disario further said it's possible there might actually be less traffic than the old use because their access to the site will be right in, right out only, while the previous facility had full access to nearby Cranbury South-River Road.

"Site access will be infinitely improved," said Disario.

While the board favored the application, there were still lingering concerns about how an approval could affect the back taxes litigation. It was decided that the board would not vote on the application until after the township attorney can give a full report on the ramifications, though it was generally agreed that this was just the township covering its back. It was expected that the application would be approved pending the report.

"I'm just concerned that the rights of the township could somehow be compromised," said Mayor Frank Gambatese, who also sits on the board.

This is the second warehouse proposal brought forth by IDI in the past two months. The firm was approved for a 190,000-square-foot expansion to an already existing 413,000-square-foot warehouse on Davidsons Mill Road. Responding to residents' concerns about additional truck traffic generated by the application, IDI agreed to conduct a study on how best to keep trucks out of residential areas as condition for the proposal's approval.