Developer agrees to provide sufficent funds to build structure.
By: Gwen McNamara
WEST WINDSOR Nature lovers can look forward to walking trails or visiting a nature center on the Baker Farm, located on Old Trenton Road, thanks to the persistence of several environmentally minded residents and the cooperation of a developer.
The township is in the process of rezoning the 157-acre property to accommodate age-restricted senior housing.
The property presently is zoned residential and developer Centex Homes has approval to build 32 single-family homes on the site.
Approval of the new Planned Residential Retirement Community zone would give Centex the option of changing its development plans.
Centex Homes has expressed interest in building age-restricted senior housing on the Baker Farm. Calton Homes, a Centex company, presented both the Planning Board and Township Council with a concept plan for such a development last year, but changed its plans as the township took its time studying the potential need for senior housing.
This week, several environmentally concerned residents lobbied both the Township Council and Planning Board to get developer Centex Homes to agree to build a nature center on the Baker Farm, which has long been on the township’s open-space purchase wish list.
"The developer has already agreed to deed over many acres of open space to the township, which would be open to public access," said Kevin Appelget, vice chairman of the township’s Environmental Commission. "A nature center would help create volunteer opportunities, foster youth and senior interaction and could be a point of recognition for the township."
On Wednesday, after Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner discussed the matter with Centex, the developer agreed to give the township $1,000 for every market-rate, senior-housing unit built on the property so the township can put a nature center on the site.
"That works out to about $150,000," Mr. Gardner said. "Which is more than enough to build a 1,500- to 2,000-square-foot nature center."
In addition, the Planning Board on Wednesday clarified that a total of 105.5 acres would be deeded over to the township for open-space preservation.
Representatives of Friends of West Windsor Open Space, a nonprofit organization, had tried to get the Planning Board to require more acres be preserved. Under Centex’s single-family home plan, 116 acres would be deeded to the township. FOWWOS wanted the township to make sure the same amount would be preserved with senior housing.
But requiring 11 more acres to be preserved would make lot sizes too small for Centex Homes to make a senior-housing development viable, Mr. Gardner said.
Ultimately, the Planning Board voted unanimously to add the nature center proposal to the Planned Residential Retirement Community zoning ordinance.
The Township Council, which introduced the ordinance Monday, is expected to vote on final approval of the ordinance, with changes, Sept. 8, according to the township clerk’s office.