ROBBINSVILLE: New options eyed in Windsor warehouse zone

By David Kilby, Special Writer
   ROBBINSVILLE — The Planning Board last week gave the nod to proposed land use code revisions designed to attract more types of “pedestrian scale” commercial development in the Windsor Industrial Park off Route 130.
   The township’s Office Warehouse Light Manufacturing District zone, which includes about a dozen parcels in the Windsor section of the township, now permits offices, light manufacturing, warehouses, and houses of worship.
   The proposed changes would expand the allowable commercial activities to include restaurants and cafes; small repair and machine shops, indoor sports and recreational facilities; retail stores that sell large consumer goods such as furniture and appliances; and businesses that manufacture, assemble or fabricate goods.
   After reviewing the proposal at its Sept. 19 meeting, the Planning Board agreed that the changes were consistent with the township’s Master Plan and forwarded it to the Township Council. The council will hold a public hearing and adoption vote on the ordinance Oct. 12.
   Planning Board Chairman Frank Cettina said the intent is to attract small office warehouses, as well as commercial development on a “pedestrian scale” that are “aesthetically pleasing.”
   Board planner Stuart Wiser said the township’s Master Plan says the municipality should “encourage retail and office development upon this corridor” and said the proposed changes were consistent with that goal.
   Board members discussed the difficulty of attracting the right kind of retail, restaurants and other commercial uses conducive to a warehouse environment.
   ”I have an objection to the thought of a restaurant going into an industrial park,” Planning Board member Daniele Breyta said, noting that a restaurant could bring in 100 to 150 people a day to the area.
   Mr. Wiser said the goal was to attract restaurants that cater mainly to employees working in the immediate area who are looking for a place to eat.
   ”These people do breakfast and lunch, clean up, and are out of there by three,” Mr. Cettina agreed.
   A significant development already approved for this area is a five-building Hindu religious complex on 37 acres of a 102.5 acre property at Main Street and Route 130 in Windsor. The Mahmandirim, a specific type of Hindu mandir, or temple, is going to be the first of its kind in North America.
   As for the rest of the district, ideally the board would like to attract manufacturing plants of 20 workers or less.
   Mr. Cettina said businesses like David Bradley Chocolatier, which makes and sells candy in the Windsor Industrial Park, are the type type of commercial operations that are good fits for the zone.
   Township Engineer Tim McGough said the code needed to be amended because right now it excludes other businesses that would be ideal tenants for the warehouse park. He cited the example of an applicant who wanted to open a shop that made and sold custom countertops, a use not permitted in the office warehouse zone.
   ”They’re bringing in marble and making countertops,” Mr. McGough said, “(but) I had to go by what the book says.”

   —Managing Editor Joanne Degnan contributed to this story.