WEST WINDSOR: Planners retain leadership

By Allison Musante, Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — The Planning Board leadership will remain intact for the coming year, as it looks forward to settling the Windsor Plaza Revitalization Plan and other key elements of the township redevelopment plan.
   At the board’s reorganization meeting Wednesday night, the board re-appointed chair Marvin Gardner and vice chair Michael Karp to their positions for another year.
   ”I thank you all for your support and I look forward to a productive 2011,” Mr. Gardner said.
   Mr. Gardner’s term will expire at the end of 2013 and Mr. Karp’s term will expire at the end of 2014. Mr. Karp was re-appointed for another four-year term, after his previous term expired on Dec. 31.
   On Wednesday, the board will hold its fourth public hearing on the site plan application for renovating the former Acme shopping center, also called the Windsor Plaza Revitalization Plan. Property owner Irv Cyzner has presented his plans for a village-style retail space, which includes gutting the former Acme to accommodate about 22 tenants in total, giving the entire façade a facelift, and constructing a second entrance for deliveries on Alexander Road, across from Harris Road.
   The board has agreed with Mr. Cyzner and his attorney, Frank Petrino, on nearly all aspects of the plan, except for the issue of signage, which will be discussed at the hearing next week. Mr. Cyzner is requesting waivers from the board to construct two 90-square-foot signs — one on the Alexander Road side and one on the Route 571 side — both 15 feet tall. Mr. Gardner said that Mr. Cyzner is willing to decrease the signs to 81 square feet, but the request is still not in compliance with the township’s ordinance and has elicited much opposition from residents regarding the signs’ safety and appearance.
   The board re-appointed its professional staff, who will continue to offer their expertise in evaluating Mr. Cyzner’s site plan and upcoming plans in the township’s redevelopment areas: Gerald Muller as planning board attorney, John Madden as the planning consultant, Chris Jepson as the environmental engineer, and Gary Davies as the traffic engineer.
   The board appointed the following individuals to aid in other capacities: Police Chief Joseph Pica as traffic safety officer; Fire Marshall Jim Yates; Landscape architect Dan Dobromilsky; Engineer Fran Guzick; Board member Chuck Chang as chair to the Ordinance Review Committee; Marvin Gardner as member of the Ordinance Review Committee; Michael Karp and Simon Pankove as members of the Site Plan Review Advisory Board; Simon Pankove as liaison to the Affordable Housing Committee