BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
JACKSON – Dove Mill Acres, a 21-home development on Grawtown Road, has received Planning Board approval. One parcel in the 22-lot subdivision will be used for storm water management.
Attorney Ray Shea represented the applicant, RG-2 Associates, and told the board the application conformed with local development regulations and did not require any variances. He said the project would change in time as it will be integrated with other contiguous projects under a General Development Plan (GDP) which was adopted by the Township Committee in April.
Other recent applications on Graw-town Road which have been approved to be included with the Dove Mill Acres 22-lot subdivision are the 25-lot William Fox subdivision, a 37-lot subdivision near Route 527 and Route 528, also by RG-2 Associates, and a 66-lot subdivision called Colts Run II.
Shea said the same conditions hold true for Dove Mill Acres as the other projects on Grawtown Road. He said applications for certificates of occupancy will not be issued until the intersection of Grawtown Road and Route 527 has a full traffic signal.
He indicated that the plan could be improved by joining the development tracts and eliminating some planned cul-de sacs or entrances.
Shea said some preliminary designs have been submitted for review for the joining of the developments and he expects to make a new application for all of the tracts as one single integrated plan before the end of 2006.
He said the applicant intends to work with the board’s professionals to develop meaningful open space and recreation areas.
“We have taken a regional approach to traffic,” said Shea. “The traffic reports have been submitted. We have been working closely with the county for the signalization and improvement of the entire [length of] Grawtown Road.”
Rick Ragan, the board’s planner, said a 50-foot setback is needed along with a walkway of some kind. Environmental items, as in the other tracts, will be required. There is no sign designed at this time, he said.
“The whole concept is to make this an integrated design package with meaningful open space,” said Ragan.
Ernie Peters, the board’s engineer, said much of the layout would not be used in the final project so most of the technical comments will be moot. He said he expects the traffic report will be similar to the previous Grawtown Road applications.
“This is a work in progress,” Shea said. “We’re seeking a preliminary approval to continue moving forward.”
Planning Board member Blanche Krubner asked if there would be any additional plantings provided and was told by Shea there would be usable open spaces by the elimination of cul-de-sacs.
Krubner said she hopes that when the integration of streets is made the plan can designed so that it is not just a bunch of houses on numerous streets.
Shea said the township has ordinances regarding development and the plan will have to be designed according to the ordinances.
Krubner also had some suggestions regarding the drainage on the parcel.
No one from the public commented on the application during the public hearing.
Preliminary approval for Dove Mill Acres was granted in a vote by Michael Hoffmann, Todd Porter, Dan Burke, Hal Millemann, Thomas Matusz, Blanche Krubner and Chairman Michael Reina.
Not present for the vote were Ann Updegrave and Ronald Rando.
It was announced that Marvin Kra-kower has resigned from the board.