TCC commuters being relocated in September Stahl questions why Toll Bros. has yet to file building plans BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer EAST BRUNSWICK - The township will soon relocate some of its commuters from the Golden Triangle to the Tower Center, pending a contract with Toll Brothers. The developer and the township are working on a construction management agreement and another unresolved issue regarding the building of a new parking deck on the Golden Triangle site, Route 18, according to Township Attorney Michael Baker. Construction of the deck, which will replace the existing Transportation and Commerce Center (TCC) park-and-ride lot, will require that commuters who use daily passes instead of monthly permits be moved temporarily. The daily parking commuters were to be moved to the Tower Center parking deck on Aug. 1, but the township announced last week that this will not take place until Sept. 4. Baker said the township does not want to move the commuters unless the agreement guiding the construction of the new deck is in place. The township will pay rent of $20,000 per month to Tower Center Associates for use of two levels of the garage during construction of the new deck, which is expected to last 10 to 12 months, Baker said. The two levels being rented are above the Neilson Plaza parking deck, which is owned and operated by the township. Those who have monthly permits to park at TCC will be able to remain there during construction of the new deck. During the July 23 Township Council meeting, Councilman David Stahl said he does not want to see the township begin work on the new parking deck without a timeframe from Toll Brothers on when its proposed residential and commercial development will begin at the Golden Triangle. He noted that the Pennsylvania-based builder still has not submitted its applications to the Planning Board. Toll Brothers struck a deal with the township in May 2005 to purchase the Golden Triangle for $35 million in exchange for being able to build up to 402 housing units and an unspecified amount of retail and office space. Though Toll Brothers is in charge of the parking deck construction, the township is funding the project at an anticipated cost of $32 million. Stahl said he is concerned about when the township will gain the tax ratables from the residential and commercial components of the Golden Triangle redevelopment, and is worried that the township may have to default on its agreement with Toll Brothers, requiring that the town buy back the land at an added cost. Mayor William Neary said he has no concern that Toll Brothers will move forward with the redevelopment on a timely basis. He noted that the new parking deck will provide more commuter parking spaces, which are needed, and better amenities for those who use the TCC. The project is to the township's benefit, regardless of what happens with the rest of the development. Neary said the new TCC will be funded with money collected through commuter fees. "It won't be a taxpayer-funded operation," he said. Noting that Toll Brothers has been timely with its payments to the township - turning over $9 million thus far, with another $4.5 million due by Dec. 31 - Baker said the builder has not submitted its building application because it is awaiting permits from the state Department Environmental Protection. Stahl said that if the township bonds for $32 million for the parking deck, and needs to buy back the rest of the Golden Triangle property, it would be in a deep financial hole. One resident, Maddy Molinari, said Stahl has been "really terrific" when it comes to responding to commuters' concerns, and said she is concerned that the township will be in a financial bind due to debt on the new parking deck. Neary said however that the debt can be paid "without necessarily seeing an increase in [commuter parking] rates." Council President Nancy Pinkin said township commuters enjoy a tremendous savings compared to prices charged for parking in other towns. "It's really a great rate," she said. "I paid more than that 25 years ago in Chicago." Some commuters are upset about the relocation, if only because it means they'll have to pay more to park at the Tower Center. On top of the frustration of not being able to obtain a permanent monthly permit - the waiting list is several years long - their daily parking rate will go from $3 at TCC to $4 at the Tower Center. And in order to be guaranteed a parking space at the Tower Center, users will have to buy monthly passes for about $88 to $92, or $4 per business day. Lauren Freidman, an East Brunswick resident and commuter affected by the pay increase, said she is upset the township saw fit to raise the rate for commuters who are already burdened with bus fares and subway or other transportation costs in New York City. She said she plans on moving, but if she remained in East Brunswick her total commuting expenses would be about $400 per month. Stahl said the reason for the increase is simple. Because the TCC daily parkers are now parking in the same deck as Neilson Plaza, they will pay the same rate as others who park there. Daily parking at Neilson is $4. Friedman questioned the fairness of having to pay $92 a month instead of the approximately $60 a month it cost to park in the daily spaces at TCC. The permanent monthly permit holders at TCC pay $21.60 [or more if they are nonresidents]. Monthly permit holders at Neilson Plaza who are township residents pay $26.75 per month. Friedman said she feels that the daily parkers are being used to subsidize the new parking deck, which she said is particularly unfair to out-of-town residents who use East Brunswick's park-and-rides, since they are no longer allowed to apply for monthly permits.