By Matt Chiappardi, Staff Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — A never-completed townhouse development on Cranbury Station Road could be getting a second chance at life.
But a plan to double its originally intended size was recently met with some criticism at a meeting of the Planning Board.
A representative of Williamstown-based Community Development Initiative Partners told the board Nov. 10 that the company may be interested in purchasing the development, and its adjacent lot.
The Old Hights Overlook Project on Cranbury Station Road, between William and Monmouth streets, was started in 2004 by developer Jeff Forman. So far, six townhouse units in two buildings have been built on about 1 acre of land, and three more in an additional building are already approved. The six units are unoccupied.
CDIP representative David Hingston said that the company’s plan would be to double the amount of planned units to 18. But the purchase of the adjacent lot would also double the amount of land which the development is on, keeping the density about the same, Mr. Hingston added.
”The density and zoning requirements would remain in line with the original development,” he said.
He and CDIP executive consultant Robert English said the development may be able to satisfy some of the borough’s Council on Affordable Housing requirements and that the company may be able to include at least five affordable units on the property.
Borough Council President Walter Sikorski, who also sits on the Planning Board, said he’s not sure the original plan for the development was a good idea, let alone the notion of expanding it.
”I have reservations about going from nine to 18 on an area that shouldn’t have had nine in the first place,” he said.
”Are we making it worse than it already is?” he added.
Board member Richard Pratt said he too had some questions about density also going back to the development’s groundbreaking.
”With the old owners, there was some question as to whether they were being straight regarding density. In my mind, it’s still fuzzy,” he said.
Conversely, board member Warren Olsen said he is fine with the idea.
”I think it’s a decent proposal, and we should pursue it,” he said.
Mr. Hingston later said that if CDIP does purchase the lots, the company could begin completing the already approved units by spring 2009. As for the additional proposed nine units, if they are approved, a timetable for construction would depend on the state of the economy, he said.

