BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
JENNIFER AMATO Two commercial/retail buildings have been constructed near the Regal Cinema movie theater on Route 1 in North Brunswick. No tenants have been announced yet, although foundations for a supermarket have been laid. NORTH BRUNSWICK – The mystery of the two buildings constructed by Regal Cinemas on Route 1 is beginning to unfold, albeit only slightly.
Commerce Center NB-1, LLC, a subsidiary of Prestige Properties, owns 13.9 acres of property just south of the movie theater. Two commercial/retail buildings have their shells already constructed, with one consisting of a supermarket foundation.
According to the mayor’s office, Joseph Comporatto of Commerce Center NB-1 said there are no tenants at this time, either for the proposed supermarket or for the other available space. Representatives from Prestige Properties could not be reached for comment.
The current zoning of the property, which is located adjacent to the Commerce Center, is transitional mixed-use, which was changed from industrial back in 1985, according to township zoning official Mike Proietti. He said that the original application for a supermarket was approved, with the building permits issued and foundations constructed. The building can only be built as a supermarket unless a new application brought before the Zoning Board of Adjustment is inconsistent with a supermarket construction.
In relation to the approval granted over 10 years ago, there may also be 108 townhouses built on 16.11 acres of land along Hartland Commons, which is owned by K. Hovnanian, in accordance with an old settlement agreement. According to Proietti, the current retail developer is not associated with the residential developer, but the residential townhouse development permits are contingent on occupied retail space. Proietti said that the townhouse development was part of a subdivision and site plan approval from the Planning Board, and that the agreement and resolution for this particular subdivided lot stated that the residential element could not receive building permits until 50,000 square feet of retail space was occupied. He added that the belief was that the retail element would offset the residential development in terms of tax leverage.
According to the township’s current perspective, the townhomes cannot be built before this aspect of the agreement is satisfied. Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack said that because of this contingency, K. Hovnanian can build its housing units once a supermarket is established; due to the previous agreement the development would be valid, leaving the township with no legal abstention to the plans. However, before the developer can receive site plan approval from the Planning Board and break ground, the supermarket must be in place.
“This is largely because we need for people who do develop in town, we need to be able to stand by our agreements and our understandings. Developing and planning in the town are like pieces of the puzzle and the town can’t let itself be in a position where it has approved something in the past … and then years later a new mayor, such as myself, or a new council goes ahead and builds without [consideration for past agreements]. … It is important for the town to stand by its original position,” he said.
Womack said that a supermarket would be “helpful” and is the “right kind of planning” in the area, but that the supermarket itself is not the issue. The importance lies in the townhouses only being built if suitable conditions exist per the agreement reached during Mayor Paul Matacera’s term.
“I think 108 townhouses being put up there, or anywhere, without holding the developers or property owners to the letter of their agreement would be the wrong thing to do,” Womack said.
There is no set timetable for the completion of the supermarket or approval of the townhouses.