Mayor unveils trade for land

South Brunswick would create new zoning to accommodate Princeton University hotel-conference plan.

By: Sharlee Joy DiMenichi
   South Brunswick could acquire about 220 acres of open space from Princeton University in exchange for rezoning another 75 acres along Route 1, Mayor Frank Gambatese announced Saturday.
   The proposal would require the creation of a new zone that would allow the University to build a hotel and conference center on the Route 1 property.
   The parcels are part of a 370-acre tract bounded by Route 1, Ridge Road and Mapleton Road, which contains both the historic Flemmer farmstead and greenhouses used by Princeton Nurseries, Mayor Gambatese said Tuesday.
   The University owns approximately 300 acres surrounding the 70-acre farm owned by the Flemmers. The University plans to acquire the Flemmer farm and give it to the township along with 150 acres of its own property as part of the proposal.
   Seventy-five of the 300 acres owned by Princeton University are zoned office/research and 225 are residential. In exchange for the open space, the township would rezone 75 acres of property currently zoned residential to either office research or office conference, a zone that would have to be created by the township. The rezoning would give the University 150 contiguous office-zoned acres along Route 1, because it already owns 75 acres zoned for office-research in the area, Mr. Gambatese said.
   "They intend to bring in a large international company," Mayor Gambatese said Saturday.
   Mayor Gambatese said he did not know which company might occupy the land. He also said the slow economy might delay Princeton’s plans.
   The proposal would call for the council to create a new office/corporate zone. University officials are expected to approach the council Jan. 21 to ask it to create the new zone.
   Mr. Gambatese said the proposed office-conference zone would allow construction of a hotel on Princeton’s property. Hotels are not permitted in the office-research zone. The proposed zone also would allow a maximum building height of 58 feet, compared with the 50-foot limit in the office-research zone, Mr. Gambatese said.
   Planning Board member Joe Spataro said the zoning change is prudent.
   "The rezoning that they asked for along the highway makes some sense because you cannot build housing along the highway," said Mr. Spataro.
   The township Open Space Committee has long placed the 150-acre parcel high on its list of desirable acquisitions, Mayor Gambatese said. It is part of a proposed open-space buffer around the village of Kingston.
   Mayor Gambatese said he would like the open space parcel to be used for an ecological study area and for passive recreation.
   "We’re not looking to develop this into ballfields. We’re not looking to develop this into an active area," Mayor Gambatese said.
   The township will not have to pay to acquire the land, but will likely use money from the open space trust fund and Green Acres funding to develop it, Mr. Gambatese said.