LAWRENCE: First step to rezoning for possible Costco

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   The Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing next month to amend the Lawrence Township Master Plan, which is the first step toward a possible rezoning of a 37-acre tract on the corner of Quakerbridge Road and Lawrence Station Road from residential use to commercial, which could include a Costco store and other businesses.
   The board agreed Monday night to set the public hearing for Sept. 10. The Land Use and Housing elements of the Master Plan would need to be changed to pave the way for possible rezoning from Planned Village Development-3, which allows for age-restricted residential housing, to Highway Commercial.
   The Master Plan reflects a municipality’s vision for itself, and is approved by the Planning Board. The Land Use Ordinance, which is sometimes called a zoning ordinance, is adopted by the municipal governing body to implement the Master Plan.
   If the Master Plan amendment is approved by the Planning Board after the public hearing, the next step is for Township Council to approve an amendment to the Land Use Ordinance.
   The tentative language in the Master Plan amendment notes that while the property has been zoned for residential use since 2005, no developers have stepped forward to submit plans. There appears to be less interest in developing age-restricted housing for persons who are at least 55 years old.
   The amendment notes that the property owner has proposed developing a Costco store, along with other retail and service facilities, on the 37-acre parcel. Those uses are permitted in the Highway Commercial zone.
   Although developing the property for residential use would have meant including affordable housing units that would be applied toward meeting Lawrence Township’s state-mandated “fair share” obligation to provide such housing, township planning consultant Philip Caton said he was not concerned about losing the housing.
   ”I am not at all concerned about removing this site (from residential use),” Mr. Caton said. Lawrence Township has exceeded its required fair share obligation of providing 891 affordable housing units township-wide, he said.
   Councilman Greg Puliti, who sits on the Planning Board, said the rezoning and the proposed redevelopment will “enhance the area.”
   ”It certainly seems to make sense,” Planning Board Chairwoman Doris Weisberg said.