community would be Metuchen
Age-restricted
community would be Metuchen’s first
BY MATT AUERBACH
Staff Writer
If a local development firm gets its way, Metuchen will see its first age-restricted housing community.
American Properties at Metuchen LLC has a pending application asking the Zoning Board to grant a use variance, which would allow the company to build 18 townhouses, which would be available to buyers age 55 and over near JFK Medical Center.
The 2.7-acre site that the applicant wants to develop sits in the G2 zone, bordered by Middlesex Avenue to the south, the hospital to the north, Salem Court to the west, and the Commerce Bank parking lot to the east.
An age-restricted community is not a permitted use in a G2 zone.
"What you can build there are an office, a bank, a funeral home, an assisted-living quarters, a day-care center or a clubhouse," said board Chairwoman Pat Lagay
According to the applicant, the estimated cost of a townhouse in the development is somewhere between $425,000 to $450,000.
"The homes will certainly be in line with the character of Metuchen," said Randy Csik, president of American Properties. Csik said the homes will be approximately 27 feet high with stucco exteriors and contain approximately 3,200 square feet of living space. Each home will also have a two-car garage.
Planner Jerry Lenaz testified on behalf of the applicant.
"Twenty-five percent of the Metuchen population is over 55," he said. Lenaz maintained that since people of that age group travel at off-peak hours the development would generate less traffic on Middlesex Avenue than a business which is permitted use for the zone located there,
Lenaz also said that the proposed community would "clearly be a fiscal plus for the borough" because the homeowners association — which would be formed when the project was complete — would be responsible for maintenance on the cul-de-sac and other small areas.
"There would be less dependency on the Public Works Commission," he said.
Traffic Engineer Jay Troutman testified that "an age-restricted community would generate 40 percent less traffic than the same number of single family homes.
"Folks 55 and over don’t work as much and don’t have young children to drive to the movies and soccer games and the mall," he said.
According to Troutman, there would only be 10 visitor parking spaces, or half a space per home, in the plans for the development.
"I can’t conceive that 10 is enough," said Lagay. "People who are 55 are still relatively young. What if the owners of one home have a party and invite 10 couples? Where would any other visitors park?"
Board Attorney Robert Munoz saw another problem concerning parking.
"What about snow?" he asked. "Where would the snow go? You’d lose spots when the snow was piled up during plowing, wouldn’t you?"
Residents who spoke during the public portion of the meeting were also worried about parking as well as what was termed the congested nature" of the homes in the community.
Their concern was echoed by board member Daniel Spiegel.
"I’m also worried that the density will look bad from the street," he said.
"We’ll have to go back to the drawing board and figure out ways to please you," Csik said to the board.
The board carried the application over to its next meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 8.