RBA Associates’ proposal includes 62,500- and 38,000-square-foot structures
By: Emily Craighead
WEST WINDSOR Plans for two office buildings at 19 Roszel Road dominated discussion at Wednesday’s township Planning Board meeting.
Testimony from the applicant, township professionals and questions from a few Planning Board members lasted until 11 p.m., when the hearing was adjourned until May 31.
RBA Associates is seeking to build two three-story office buildings on the site of the Core Laboratory Refinery Systems building. One would measure 62,500 square feet, and the other would measure 38,000 square feet. The application calls for 402 parking spaces, a pond in front of the building and sidewalks and paths connecting the site to Carnegie Center.
The applicant is requesting a variance to exceed the 50-percent limit on impervious coverage of the site. Without the construction of 67 banked parking spaces, impervious surfaces cover 51.3 percent of the site. Sidewalks account for 1.1 percent of the impervious coverage.
Another variance under consideration would allow the applicant to build the pond within the 75-foot buffer between the buildings and Roszel Road.
"This is a significant improvement on the existing site," township consultant John Madden said. "It is a good addition to Carnegie Center."
Changes to improve traffic flow at Roszel Road and Alexander Road will be made in conjunction with the construction of another recently approved building at 300 Carnegie Center Drive. The light at that intersection will be re-timed to accommodate the volume of traffic turning left onto Roszel Road from westbound Alexander Road. Eventually, a dedicated right-turn lane will be added on eastbound Alexander Road.
Planning Board members Martin Rosen and Heidi Kleinman said they were disappointed RBA did not incorporate more green building elements as suggested in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, especially minimizing the impervious coverage and preserving trees.
Further discussion of the application will take place at the board’s May 31 meeting.