By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Planners have approved an assisted living center on Route 206 near the intersection with Old Somerville Road, despite concerns about future traffic problems.
Senior Housing Development LLC, of Jericho, N.Y., now has permission to build a 112-bed extended care facility on 8.69 acres at 351 Route 206 and the east side of Old Somerville Road.
At the hearing Thursday night, the applicant showed two diagrams of the site — one with the present two-lane Route 206 and the other with a future four-lane 206 divided by a median. The driveway to the site would be north of a wide V in the highway that presents potential dangers, especially for left-hand turns in and out of the site.
The applicant agreed to design the delta-shaped driveway intersection to encourage right turns, but said the final decision on driveway location and type would be left to the state Department of Transportation.
Board member Michael Merdinger, a former governing body member and township administrator, said the site has always presented traffic challenges. He said denial of an office building proposed for that area in the 1980s had been upheld by the courts solely on the basis of concerns over traffic safety.
Township Committeeman Frank DelCore said he didn’t see how a car could make a safe left turn out of the site, considering the wide, unsignalized intersection where Old Somerville Road veers off southbound Route 206.
Board Attorney said Eric Bernstein suggested the board could add a condition to permit only right turns into and out of the site. While the DOT would have final say, it would signal the board’s concerns to the state, the attorney said.
The applicant’s traffic engineer said he considered the project would generate small amounts of traffic, mostly be employees.
A drug treatment center was sought for the site in late 2012 when Harding Corona came before the Planning Board for a 56-bed drug- and substance-abuse rehabilitation facility. It withdrew in January 2013 in the face of opposition of residents in the Flanders Lane area adjacent to the south. Residents were worried about safety and the type of patient that would be
This time neighbors were generally pleased with the plan. The biggest concern seemed to be over what type of fence along the property line would give privacy without being obtrusive.
Board member Shawn Lipani said the plan was clean, would replace an eyesore and would generate low trafic.
All-American would build a two-story, 57,157-square-foot building, with 61 parking spaces.
A 24-foot-wide driveway is about 155 feet south of the Royce Brook tributary culvert. A Royce Brook tributary crosses the southern one-third of the property, with associated flood hazard area and wetlands.
The property has 345 feet frontage on 206, with more on the future Route 206 bypass. The property is opposite the historic Van Der Veer-Harris house, which is owned by the township.
The memory care wing would have 10 companion suites and two studios for a total of 24 beds. The assisted living area would have 43 companion suites and two studios for 88 beds.
A one-story frame residence and garage on the property would be demolished.
A planner’s report said 224 trees would be removed and replaced with 199. The applicant was granted a waiver to contribute to the township tree replacement fund instead of keeping or planting all the trees on site.
Owner of the property is Kulina Asset Management Trust, Neshanic Station, according to the application.
Senior Housing Development principal Glenn Kaplan said his company would develop and oversee the business. The company has similar operations in West Windsor, Hackettstown, Pennsauken, Branchville and Freehold.
