By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — The Planning Board will continue discussions on a plan to rezone several large parcels for additional subsidized housing on Wednesday, as the township maps out a strategy to deal with new state affordable housing regulations.
Facing rezoning are more than 24 acres across Route 571 from the McCaffrey’s Shopping Center, a 75-acre parcel known as the Thompson tract near the intersection of Old Trenton Road and Route 571, and property off Canal Pointe Boulevard occupied by Princeton Theological Seminary graduate student housing.
Each would be rezoned for what planning officials expect to be a 25-percent affordable housing component, with the remainder being market-rate.
The plan, which received a mixed response from the public at last week’s Planning Board session, comes as the township plans for a new affordable housing obligation of around 115 units that arose from new Council on Affordable Housing regulations adopted by the state in June.
The township’s rezoning plan, if adopted, would carry a total of 236 affordable housing units.
”The plan, as we presently have discussed it, suggests building 236 affordable units, for the purpose of providing a cushion in the event there are serious objections to our proposals,” said Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner.
Of the three properties, it appears the Thompson tract would be the most densely developed, with the 44 developable acres set to receive eight to 10 housing units each acre.
With the demolition of the seminary’s current housing, zoning for the new development could call for eight units per acre for a total of around 380 units, with a little over 75 affordable units.
The seminary has indicated to the township that it wants to replace the current, aging housing, according to Mr. Gardner.
The parcel near McCaffrey’s would be the least dense, with six units per acre along with the potential for some retail space, according to township plans.
The land near McCaffrey’s, consisting of a parcel currently zoned for professional offices, could also be rezoned to accept some limited retail uses, according to Planning Board Attorney Gerald Muller.
Officials sent out notices to residents with the hope that community members would come out to weigh in on the proposals, which represent major development plans for the township.

