Toll Brothers divulges redevelopment details
Builder says housing, timeline will depend on market conditions
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - Toll Brothers came before the Planning Board last week to discuss its plans for the Golden Triangle site on Route 18.

And though the developer is still seeking approval for the retail and residential uses outlined in its redevelopment plan with the township, it acknowledged that market conditions could further change the plans. A large amount of office space initially proposed by Toll Brothers has already been eliminated, and it remains possible that the residential portion may ultimately be dropped as well.

In that case, the developer would build a large retail center.

Speaking during the Dec. 19 Planning Board hearing, Toll Brothers' vice president of real estate development, Robert Fuller, said the shopping center idea is a "contingency plan" in case the residential real estate market does not improve. He made the statement in response to a comment from board Chairman Shawn Taylor, who referred to a discussion held at a recent council meeting in which a councilman asked about the possibility of further changes.

Fuller said the company wants to be prepared for the possibility that the housing market does not bounce back.

With the Toll Brothers matter being publicly criticized at times, and with the discussion being placed on the Planning Board agenda that night, Taylor said it was unfortunate that those who have complained about the redevelopment issue were not in attendance.

The council is considering an amendment that would allow Toll Brothers to push back the deadlines for construction and to extend its lease with businesses currently located on the site, including Sam's Club.

The property Toll Brothers purchased from the township is just over 31 acres, Fuller told the board, and is bound by Route 18, Tices Lane, Old Bridge Turnpike and a Comfort Suites Inn.

The company's aim is to provide a "mixed-use, upscale and transit-oriented," development. Thomas Kelso, attorney for Toll Brothers, said the development would be known as the Cornerstone at East Brunswick.

Kelso said the construction would be performed in stages.

Phase one, which has already started, includes construction of the new Transportation and Commerce Center commuter parking deck. The next phase would include building two restaurant pads, one on either side of the boulevard entrance to the development. Fuller said the restaurant pads would total roughly 17,000 square feet and include "upscale" restaurants.

Kelso said phase three would involve building the residential housing and about 169,000 square feet of retail space.

Fuller said about 50 residential units, or four floors of housing, would be located above the ground floor of retail space in one of the buildings. And this retail/residential building would have parking underneath the structure.

The remainder of the residential units - a total of 402 units are permitted in the redevelopment plan - would be located in two larger residential buildings behind the retail/residential building. These two larger residential structures would be linked by recreational facilities including a clubhouse, swimming pool and fitness equipment.

Parking for these condominium units would wrap around the buildings to allow people to park close to where they live. All units would have one or two bedrooms.

After vehicles enter the site by going down the boulevard, there would be a roundabout to divert traffic and slow it down, as well as to create a focal point. In addition, there would be a "visual element" such as a statue, Fuller said.

When completed, the project would actually have less impervious coverage and more greenery than is currently on the property, Fuller said.

Board member Jeanette Tugya asked Fuller about the timeline for the development, and Fuller responded that it depends on market conditions.

Kelso said Toll Brothers is seeking preliminary approvals for phases two and three. The approval for phase one, the commuter parking deck, was obtained last year and it is currently under construction.

Several variances are required for the project, including one for front-yard setback and another for side-yard setback. There will also be variance requests for parking allotment in phases two and three.

Toll Brothers plans to have several experts testify at future Planning Board meetings, including a civil engineer, planner, architect and traffic expert.