STAFF/ANDREW HARRISON

Cranbury Planning Board resumes examination of Toll Brothers application on July 9

An application by Toll Brothers for a new age-restricted residential development in Cranbury returns to the planning board for a public hearing.

Representatives will continue to make their case for application approval through a Zoom meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on July 9. Residents must register prior to the planning board meeting to attend the virtual public hearing.

At the June 4 hearing, Cranbury Planning Board members heard testimony from Toll Brothers project engineer Jay Kruse from ESE Consultants. The board still has to hear the testimony from Toll Brothers architect, traffic engineer and planner for the project.

The proposal offers a development containing 167 units, which is a seven-unit decrease from the original proposal on the Protinick property located at the corner of Dey and Petty roads.

The first plan was a 174-unit age-restricted development on the 71-acre property.

In March, Toll Brothers had been denied a variance to alter the riparian zone buffer that surrounded a surface water body to the east of the Protinick property, which altered the number of housing units Toll Brothers would go on to propose.

In 2016, Cranbury officials entered into an affordable housing settlement agreement with Toll Brothers. As a result of that agreement, Toll Brothers seeks the planning board’s approval for its proposed development called Regency at Cranbury.

Access to the residential site will be through two full-movement access driveways proposed to intersect Dey and Petty roads, according to documents.

The Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, a Lawrenceville firm, hired by Toll Brothers states in its impact traffic study that the proposed development is not expected to significantly impact traffic during peak hours.

According to figures from the firm’s analysis, Langan estimates that the residential project will generate about 60 trips (20 enter, 40 exit) during the weekday morning peak hour and 72 trips (44 enter, 28 exit) during the weekday evening peak hour.

In addition to the traffic study, environmental impact studies were conducted by ESE consultants (also hired by Toll Brothers). ESE stated in its report that the project will not impact the floodplain of Cedar Brook. They do not expect any changes to the floodplain’s current condition, according to project documents.

The southern portion of the proposed development site is bounded by the Cedar Brook stream, which is part of Delaware-Raritan River system.

Along with the housing units, Toll Brothers plans to construct a one-story clubhouse that would include a pool, a spa, two tennis courts, two bocce courts and bicycle parking. There will also be a putting green and outdoor gathering center as part of the recreational facilities.

Representatives estimate that the development will generate $2.19 million in property tax revenue.

The property currently consists of an active farm and contains a single-family home and two accessory structures on the northern part of the site along Dey Road.

For more information about Regency at Cranbury and how to access the public hearing, visit www.cranburytownship.org.