A land-use planner with special experience in transportation
By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — Plainsboro’s first director of zoning and planning is set to start at the new position on Nov. 13, following his appointment by the Township Committee on Oct. 10.
Coming from a position with the South Jersey Transit Authority, Les Varga has also served previously in Hunterdon and Morris counties in various planning capacities.
He said that his work with the regional planning organizations would help him deal with Plainsboro’s regional transportation issues, while his work in more localized planning would also lend itself well to his new position.
”I am a land-use planner with a subspecialty in transportation,” said Mr. Varga, a graduate of California Polytechnic Institute in San Luis Obispo. “I hope this background will come in handy working in Plainsboro.”
His background in both municipal and county planning and larger regional transportation planning is what led township officials to recommend him to the Township Committee, according to Township Administrator Bob Sheehan.
”Les has an ideal background,” said Mr. Sheehan. “While we needed someone who has strengths in municipal planning, so much of what we do links into transportation issues.”
The new position of director of zoning and planning came out of some reshuffling the township did following the retirement of the last community development director, Ernie Freeman, Mr. Sheehan said.
The community development position had been in charge of several township departments — planning, engineering, and building — and the township wanted to break those up among more specialized positions, according to Mr. Sheehan.
“Out we went to recruit a new director of planning and zoning, and we brought in Mr. Varga as the recommended candidate,” Mr. Sheehan said.Mr. Varga said he looks forward to working on the challenges facing Plainsboro, including the future relocation of the University Medical Center at Princeton to the FMC property.Mr. Varga currently lives in Hillsborough in Somerset County.