Changes affect office warehouse zones near Route 130
By Joanne Degnan, Mananging Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — The Township Council has adopted changes to its land use code to attract new types of businesses to the office/warehouse zones located near Route 130 at the township’s northern and southern borders.
The changes affect the Windsor Industrial Park area by Route 130, Voelbel Road and North Main Street near the East Windsor border, as well as the business park on North Gold Drive near the Hamilton Township border.
Both locations are zoned Office Warehouse Light Manufacturing District (OW), which previously only permitted offices, light manufacturing, warehouses, and houses of worship.
The changes approved by the Township Council on Oct. 11 expand the allowable commercial activities to include restaurants and cafes; small repair and machine shops employing less than 20 people, indoor sports and recreational facilities; retail stores that sell large consumer goods such as furniture and appliances; contractors’ offices and equipment storage areas; and businesses that manufacture, assemble or fabricate goods.
”Although the Windsor Industrial Park is a perfect place for the uses that were added into the ordinance with this change, they were not technically permitted uses,” Township Economic Development Director Tim McGough said Monday.
Businesses whose activities don’t fall within a narrow scope of permitted uses are required to seek variances, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process involving various consulting and township fees, Mr. McGough said. By changing the land use code, small businesses that are a good fit for the OW zone will not be burdened with the expense of seeking variances, he said.
The changes will “open the warehouse park up for the potential to become fully occupied and possibly expand,” Mr. McGough said. “We hope this will lead to aesthetic improvements in the park as well.”
The changes also affect the OW zone on North Gold Drive at the township’s southern border with Hamilton.
”This was a terrific move to spur economic development in both areas that are zoned OW, one on each end of the township,” Mr. McGough said.

