The Bordentown Township Committee amended an ordinance to rezone property along Route 130, which is now approved for the use of residential development.
According to township officials, a parcel of land between Crescent Drive and Highbridge Road is currently being sought after by a land developer for housing development, but the proposed project site was initially zoned for highway commercial use.
Officials said at the committee meeting, which was held on Nov. 19, that the proposed project site would include 92 age-restricted housing units, including 19 affordable housing units as well, which according to township mayor Stephen Benowitz, would comply with the township’s state mandated affordable housing settlement.
“Due to a developer wanting to provide age-restricted, affordable housing, we had to amend our settlement agreement to include this project,” said Benowitz. “Our settlement is for 425 affordable housing units in total throughout the whole township.
“The project being addressed in this ordinance is necessary to meet our mandated requirements.”
Given the proposed project site’s proximity to existing housing communities nearby, multiple residents came forth at the meeting during the public comment period to address their concerns and opinions with the potential housing site.
According to several residents, their complications associated with the proposed site addressed their property values to potentially diminish as well as concerns with traffic, parking and waste storage.
“I understand why they were frustrated, but many of their questions and concerns will be addressed at the planning board level, not necessarily at the committee level,” said township administrator Michael Theokas. “The proposed project is a concept plan for what is being built, but is by no means the end result.”
Now that the zoned property has been approved for housing development, officials said the developer is going to have to submit plans for preliminary and final site plan review to the township planning board, but anticipate the proposed plans to come before the board by spring of next year.