Board Chairman Marvin Gardner emphasizes importance of diverse opinions
By: Molly Petrilla
WEST WINDSOR As the township prepares for a series of public redevelopment workshops, Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner identified several issues he says should be addressed.
Unlike Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh and the five-member council, Mr. Gardner will be able to sit alongside other residents and help shape the town’s 350-acre redevelopment area at three public charrettes, the first of which is scheduled for Thursday.
In a recent interview, Mr. Gardner outlined his goals for the public workshops and his questions about the redevelopment site.
He said it is particularly important for residents to work as colleagues rather than adversaries throughout the charrette process, even if their opinions differ greatly.
"There needs to be a constructive, robust dialogue at the (workshops) at which critical issues are addressed, inherent problems are recognized and analyzed and remedies and solutions are proposed," he said. "Hopefully, we will coalesce behind a consensus plan that is clear and unambiguous and that will revitalize our township and create a vibrant street life and town center environment."
While identifying consensus as the ultimate goal, Mr. Gardner also pointed to the importance of diverse opinions in developing a plan for the area.
"I think even those residents who want to retain the status quo need to participate and give their reasons as to why they take such a position," he said. "They should join the charrette process as well."
The Planning Board chairman said he hopes to get answers to a slew of questions as a plan for the redevelopment site takes shape over the coming months.
He said it’s important to consider how many residences would be needed to support stores, restaurants and other consumer services in the new town center area, but also to consider how those residences could affect school enrollment and by extension taxes.
According to Mr. Gardner, the township should also consider if the redevelopment will have a positive financial impact on the community and if private developers will finance public amenities such as parks, open space and cultural institutions.
He said he is also looking to discover who would take on the cost of constructing additional commuter parking at the Princeton Junction train station and what road improvements and traffic-calming measures should be implemented to ease the often-congested area.
Ultimately, Mr. Gardner and the rest of the Planning Board will play a crucial role in the redevelopment process.
In December, West Windsor-based Hillier Architecture was awarded the contract for preparing a concept plan for the redevelopment area. Based on the timeline the firm created last month, the Hillier team will present a concept plan for the site at a joint meeting of the Township Council and Planning Board in May.
From June to September, the firm will prepare a redevelopment plan document, which it will bring before the Planning Board in September.
The Planning Board will spend as many as three meetings discussing the document and according to the proposed timeline recommend the plan to the council for approval.