Hillier says reaching consensus may be impossible; suggests firm may resign from project
By: Greg Forester
WEST WINDSOR The head of the architectural firm working on plans for the proposed transit village warned township officials and the public Monday that the political atmosphere was harming his firm’s ability to satisfy the township’s desires for the project and coming up with a plan may be impossible.
"We feel that what was a positive process has been derailed by a contentious election and an increasingly divisive political environment and we think it has jeopardized the project," J. Robert Hillier said at Monday’s combined Planning Board and Township Council meeting. "We are deeply concerned that it may not be possible to deliver a plan that will satisfy all of the competing demands of an increasingly polarized client."
Mr. Hillier suggested the possibility that his firm could resign from the project, and allow another firm to attempt to deliver what the township wanted.
These warnings come during a political climate that saw the election of Will Anklowitz, George Borek, and Charlie Morgan, who ran on a "Best 4 West Windsor" slate with a platform aligned against the inclusion of 1,000 new housing units in the redevelopment area.
But Mr. Morgan said he did not think the project was in jeopardy, and that it would be unfortunate for Hillier Architecture to withdraw from the project.
"The fact of the matter is the best answer is not for Hillier to leave, but to restart the process," said Mr. Morgan. "We need to re-engage the public the way we promised."
Following Mr. Hillier’s warning to those gathered at the Grover Middle School for the meeting, variations on the original plan of 1,000 residential units were introduced.
They included plans for 250, 500, and 750 residential units, along with a more detailed analysis of the original 1,000-unit plan.
The presentation included a detailed financial analysis by Economic Research Associates that projected decreasing financial benefits for the township with decreases in the number of residential units.
"I saw so much out there that might be outright wrong," said Mr. Morgan, of the presentations. "It was based on assumptions, and we need a process where we have access to assumptions."
Some of Mr. Hillier’s presentation included changes made to the original plan that seemed to satisfy the demands of residents identified in earlier portions of the process.
These included the addition of a pedestrian walkway connecting parking decks on the west side of the tracks and the New York-bound platform on the east and the removal of a roadway connecting Alexander Road and the Sherbrook Estates neighborhood, which pleased Councilman Will Anklowitz.
"Mr. Hillier did the right thing about the realignment of Sherbrook Drive with Alexander Road," said Mr. Anklowitz. "I look forward to discussing other details and concerns with Mr. Hillier."
The audience of residents and township officials were also treated to renderings of what the downtown area near the train station and along Route 571 would look like as a mixed-use town center.

