By: centraljersey.com
WEST WINDSOR – Residents attending Wednesday night’s Planning Board meeting were disappointed to learn that a grocery store would not take ACME’s place in the shopping center on Route 571 as part of the West Windsor Revitalization Plan.
At the meeting, property owner Irv Cyzner presented his application for renovating the property, including expert testimonies from the project’s architect, engineers, city planner, and Mr. Cyzner’s LEED-certified son, moderated by Mr. Cyzner’s attorney, Frank Petrino, of Sterns and Weinroth.
In the presentation, which marks the first major component of a multi-project revitalization plan, Mr. Cyzner explained that after conducting market research, he concluded that a grocery store wouldn’t thrive given the threat of "supercenter" supermarkets and one-stop-shop stores such as Wal-Mart.
"The local grocery store is a dinosaur," he said.
During the public forum, many residents expressed that while they are excited to see their beloved shopping center receive a much-needed facelift, they believe a grocery store is still a necessary service in the center.
"My husband used to say, ‘Oh, you’re going to ACME? You’ll be there at least an hour or so,’ because I always ran into people there. I hope to have that place again where I can eat, shop and meet my neighbors like I used to," said Meg Chicco, of Lancashire Drive.
Mr. Cyzner, who bought the property in the spring, and his team explained that the ACME space would be broken up into two parts: a large storefront facing Route 571 and a smaller storefront facing the Alexander Road side. The center would have a two-story appearance and covered walkway.
"We will break up the monotony of its appearance," said Albert Taus, the project architect. "We’ll conceal the giant ACME space because most tenants won’t need that much space, giving it a village-style look."
Mike Hornsby, of Alexander Road, who also wants to see a grocery store in the center, said he opposes Mr. Cyzner’s plan to erect two 15-foot signs on Alexander Road and Route 571 to display store names.
"It’ll be an eyesore and inconsistent with the character of the neighborhood," he said.
Mr. Cyzner said the signs are critical for attracting more customers to the shopping center, especially passersby on Route 571, which sees more than 5,800 cars a week, he said.
"This could really make the difference for this to be an upscale shopping center," he said.
Community members also took issue with Mr. Cyzner’s plans to construct a second driveway on the Alexander Road side for delivery truck usage. Mr. Cyzner said a second driveway is necessary to separate delivery trucks from customer traffic.
"It’s a dangerous situation for customers," he said. "I want to make it easier for delivery men to receive on the rear of the buildings and have an easy way out. They’ve been using the space by the bank to turn around or parking right in front of the stores."
Mr. Cyzner said that the addition, which would turn the T-shape intersection at Harris and Alexander roads into a four-way stop, would be marked with appropriate signs and enforced by local police. But many residents said that the new intersection would be more congested, confusing and potentially dangerous.
"I don’t think it’ll be beneficial to pedestrians," said resident John Foster. "It’s especially dangerous to the high school students who frequently cross at that crosswalk."
Other additions to the center include a spruce to the landscaping, internally-lit storefront signs, a continuous walkway connecting the center to Sherbrooke Drive across Route 571, and covered outdoor seating area for a Starbucks, which has already submitted a letter of intent to become a tenant. Mr. Cyzner said he also gathered interest from a dog groomer, a pilates studio, and a learning center. The center should accommodate up to 22 tenants, he said.
Mr. Cyzner’s son, Eric Cyzner, spoke about the center’s "green" features, including using solar panels, high-efficiency light bulbs, building with local, recycled material, using indigenous species for landscaping, as well as beginning remediation of any contaminants that may be affecting the plaza property from the neighboring gas stations.
After all project members gave their testimonies in support of Mr. Cyzner’s application, time ran out for community members to offer questions and concerns. Even after extending the meeting for an hour, Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner agreed to hold an additional public hearing at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 in the municipal center, room A.
"This application is of critical importance," he said. "This center has by tradition catered to the needs of the adjacent communities."
At the meeting, the Planning Board also approved three resolutions by unanimous vote. It approved Tyco International Management Co.’s plan to begin modifications to its Roszel Road site; the Twin "W" First Aid Squad’s request for an equipment storage facility; and for 120 apartment units to be constructed at West Windsor Gardens II on Clarksville Road.

