Proposed bank as well as animal shelter come in for criticism
By: Jake Uitti
MONTGOMERY Residents in the Blawenburg village area raised concerns during Monday’s township Planning Board meeting about two projects they said may cause safety and privacy problems for their neighborhood.
Thirteen families from the area were in attendance Monday, with several residents objecting to the proposed construction of a Yardville National Bank branch on Route 518, which would include an indoor 24-hour ATM.
The second project is the already-approved animal shelter on Route 601, formerly the Van Zandt Mansion, that is to be used jointly by SAVE and the Friends of Homeless Animals, two non-kill shelters that have combined.
Blawenburg resident Sarah Romagnoli said her primary concern with both facilities is noise. She said she was also perturbed she was not made aware of the animal shelter coming into her neighborhood.
"I never had a chance to have a say," she said of the animal shelter. "Yet I am going to be the one hearing this. Because they have followed the rule that only people within 200 feet of the structure (will be informed), only one of my neighbors was notified, but she was on vacation."
She added, "My objection is that when something this big happens, I think rules and laws should be changed so that people that are affected have a chance to be notified."
Mrs. Romagnoli said she was also concerned about the lights and traffic that would be generated by the proposed bank in Blawenburg Village Square, which will include four buildings with retail facilities and residencies on the second floor.
Sandy and Jim Williams, who are neighbors of Ms. Romagnoli, also voiced concern about the bank and the animal shelter.
"There’s not much we can do about the bank coming in," Ms. Williams said. "I am happy to hear that the ATM is inside so the lighting is not as offensive."
The couple said they planted a wall of 18-foot evergreens along their property line between their home and the area where the bank is to be built.
"When the cars come into the facility, their headlights go into the family area of the house," she said, referring to the ongoing construction project. "Also, our daughter’s bathroom window can be seen by the facility’s driveway. She’s even been whistled at."
Ms. Williams raised the point that the buildings in the project are about 2½- stories high, taller than the structure they are replacing.
Regarding the animal shelter, Ms. Williams expressed worry for the children at Montgomery High School, saying older, unadoptable dogs may be loud or even escape and cause harm.
Responding to the claims, Fred Ball, executive director of SAVE in Princeton, said, "We don’t plan to move into the new facility for three to five years." He added, "I’d love to open a dialogue for these people to find out what their concerns are. I believe there is enough distance between the proposed shelter and the neighbors, but obviously we want to be good neighbors and work this out.
"We’ve been in business for almost 65 years and we’ve never had a dog escape that I’m aware of," Mr. Ball added. "Dogs are either enclosed in pens or under a leash. Dogs do not roam the shelter."
Kevin Tylus, president and chief operating officer of Yardville National Bank, described his bank is a community bank. "We were named Corporate Philanthropist of the Year by the Community Foundation of New Jersey," he said. "The bank will be a very attractive building, in keeping with the village atmosphere."
Mr. Tylus also said he would like to schedule a meeting with residents, adding, "We’re optimistic there can be a solution that will be aesthetically pleasing to everyone."
Mr. Tylus said he has been a Montgomery Township resident since 1997.
On Monday, several members of the Planning Board, including Sarah Roberts and Ernest Wilson, voiced discontent that the plan for a bank was being brought to their attention after the plans for the project had already been approved, saying if they knew a bank would be included, they would have chosen a different building for it, perhaps farther away from neighbors and closer to the corner of the intersection.
The applicants responded that it would be difficult to change the location of the bank, but that they would look into it further.
Robert Heibell of Van Cleef Engineering Associates said his firm still needs to submit a formal application to the board for the bank, which will include looking at the drive-through lane of the bank to make it less visible, while maintaining some of the existing trees on site, as well as working with neighbors and the landscaping.
A formal application is expected to be submitted to the board in June, he said.
Planning Board Chairman Steven Sacks-Wilner said neighbors are protected against noise problems with both the animal shelter and the bank, by having the right to raise a noise complaint with the township.
Mayor and Planning Board member Louise Wilson said Monday she was pleased Yardville wanted to create a branch in Blawenburg. Mr. Sacks-Wilner agreed.