By Charley Falkenburg, The Packet Group
ROBBINSVILLE — The Township Council voted to amend the Town Center South Redevelopment Plan at its meeting Feb. 9.
After much discussion, the council decided to eliminate the inclusion of detached single-family homes in the southern tract. They thought it might appeal to the wrong age bracket and increase the possibility of generating more children.
”The concept was discussed that if you have duplexes and townhouses as opposed to single-family units, the units would be smaller,” said Stuart Wiser, of Remington, Vernick and Arango Engineers. “They wouldn’t be designed to be conducive to families.”
Instead, the council revised the plan to describe the residential area as corporately managed four-story apartment buildings comprised of one and two bedrooms. Council members said the design of the buildings would be similar to those in Town Center North and would incorporate common courtyard or area features.
Unlike regular zoning development, Mr. Wiser said they would be using a new developer selection process where Robbinsville will advertise this plan and then solicit proposals from redevelopers. He described it as a “expression of interest” where the town will set up a framework for the developer and give the developer guidance in the type of neighborhoods residents want.
Board of Education president Michael Reca emphasized the overcrowding issue in the Robbinsville School District. He asked the council to take that into consideration.
”We expect an additional 350 students into our system over the next five years,” Mr. Reca said. “Adding these students to those already enrolled makes our current facilities inadequate to educate our children in the manner expected by the community.”
Resident Betty Alfano echoed Mr. Reca’s sentiments.
”That’s $11,000 per kid, and it’s going to fall back on the taxpayers,” she said.
Since the town is aiming to make units age-targeted to control the number of children, Mr. Wise said the concept developer chosen would design homes that were not family friendly. For example, the plan calls for generally smaller units and does not include a playground.
Councilman Ron Witt appeared to be skeptical about the concept.
”Whether they are small bedrooms, bedrooms are still going to generate children,” he said.
Mr. Wise said he was uncertain how many units there would be because there are too many different ways a developer could lay out the plan. He suggested it was best to be flexible.
”Let’s invite developers in with their concepts based on the framework of the plan and negotiate with them to select the best one,” Mr. Wise said. “I think it’s important.”
The council also will be able to negotiate with the developer and have ultimate control of the scope of the project.
In other business, toward the end of the meeting, Mayor David Fried talked briefly about the municipal budget. Although figures were not divulged, Mayor Fried said the budget could increase 1.5 percent due to declining ratables and loss of revenue.
However, Mayor Fried said the town’s debt has been reduced from $35 million in 2009 to $33 million as of 2012. Also, by moving school elections to November, the town reduced the budget by almost $30,000.
”I’m very optimistic as we move forward that debt payments will go away. This will help us meet cash flow and the cap,” he said. “This should allow us to go into next year strongly.”

