Cranbury faces Dec. 20 deadline for submitting proposal to state.
By: Jessica Beym
Incorporating a senior development into township plans for affordable housing could cause more problems than it will solve, according to Mark Berkowsky, Cranbury Housing Associates president.
The subcommittee on affordable housing discussed designating land near Four Seasons on Old Trenton Road as housing for senior citizens, instead of family units.
Currently plans call for that parcel to contain 20 single-family houses, which would count toward the township’s affordable housing requirements.
Residents who attended the Township Committee meeting on Monday said they would rather see a senior development built there. They say senior units, without children, will put less of a burden on the Cranbury School.
However Mr. Berkowsky said family homes won’t likely affect the school enrollment too much. A CHA study from the past two rounds of affordable housing showed that on average, only one student for every family unit of affordable housing has enrolled in the school, he said.
"The overall impact on the schools is minimal," said Mr. Berkowsky.
He also said senior housing wouldn’t meet the affordable housing requirements. He said they would have to build 10 more senior units to meet the same requirement met by the 20 family units. The senior development would also be harder to market.
The township is expecting to build 50 family rental units to meet its third round affordable housing requirements, 20 of which are set to be built on the site near Four Seasons. Because of bonuses awarded by COAH for building rental units and very low-income units, the township would have to build 30 senior units on that same tract.
The township must submit its plans to the state by Dec. 20.
Mayor Becky Beauregard affordable housing units often go to broken families, divorced parents, young couples who work for the township, or even volunteers of the fire department or first aid squad.
"(Affordable housing) is important to the social fabric of our community. The township needs to look at the whole picture and not lose site of the purpose of the COAH needs," she said.
Mr. Berkowsky is encouraging the township to make a decision so that CHA can move ahead with architectural designs.
For the past three years, CHA has been developing plans for the site, which was donated to the township by K. Hovnanian in a settlement agreement. CHA is a nonprofit organization establish to implement and manage the township’s affordable housing programs.
Mr. Berkowsky also said building an age-restricted development would carry other costs. Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, if a senior complex were built, the developers would be required to build a community center, which would raise the construction costs.
However, some parents and residents said a senior development would outweigh the risk of having to pay for an addition on the school if too many school-aged children move into the new developments.
School board President Joan Rue has said the district has no set number regarding when enrollment is over the school’s limit. She said the number of students the school can accommodate depends on the class size and the age of new students.
In the past, the Board of Education has predicted a yearly population-increase of 20 to 25 students. This year, 40 more students enrolled than last year.
The margin of error is attributed to the underestimation of re-sold homes, rather than new developments.
Ken Elsworth of Griggs Road said building senior developments would help solve that problem.
"The township should minimize its growth when it can in order to balance out the underestimation of the resales," he said.
At a recent school board meeting, Joan Weidner, school board and Planning Board member, said the board plans on working with the township and real estate agents to develop a better estimate for next year’s enrollment projection.
The issue will be discussed again at the next planning board meeting on Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. in Town Hall.

