new strip mall now planned for Route 27 tract
By Davy James, Staff Writer
South Brunswick has reached a settlement with developer Riya Finnegans LLC that will allow a shopping center to be built on Route 27 with the township purchasing part of the property so a buffer can be installed to protect residential neighbors.
The township agreed to purchase 7 of the 11 acres owned by Riya Finnegans for $475,000 while the developer will abandon plans for an office building.
The developer does plan to build a small retail mall on the property.
Riya Finnegans originally proposed an office building, pharmacy and strip mall for the property, which is at the intersection of Route 27 and Finnegans Lane. The site-plan application was denied by the township, and the property was rezoned to address concerns raised by neighbors in the Brunswick Acres development.
The state Supreme Court in December 2008 reversed an appellate ruling that sided with the township and declared the rezoning void.
Since then, the township has been negotiating with Riya.
”The court ruled that they could build whatever they want on that parcel,” said South Brunswick Mayor Frank Gambatese. “They wanted to construct a 10,000-square-feet office building that would’ve been close to residents that neighbor the property. We approached them and said we were concerned about a buffer for our residents and said we’d like them to eliminate the office building.”
An initial payment of $47,500 will be made on the parcel with the remaining $427,500 to be paid in a year. Mayor Gambatese said about 5 acres of the property are wetlands so the proposed buildings would have been bunched together on about 6 acres, leaving residents who live near the property with no relief from noise.
Mayor Gambatese said he was pleased with the agreement.
”We needed to make sure we maintained our residents’ quality of life,” he said. “The only thing they’re going to build is a commercial strip. This protects the neighbors in Brunswick Acres, and it protects our wetlands.”