Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer, The Place at Plainsboro, which is intended to be a fully “affordable” housing development, has gained the Plainsboro Township Planning Board’s approval., The 100-unit rental apartment community, which is aimed at low- and moderate-income households, is planned for a 30-acre parcel on Dey Road that belonged to Plainsboro Township. The project is being developed by Community Investment Strategies, which is based in Lawrence Township., The Place at Plainsboro is being built as part of a settlement between Plainsboro Township and the nonprofit Fair Share Housing Center, which sued the township over its lack of affordable housing. The two sides settled on 683 units as Plainsboro’s fair share, and the development approved by the Planning Board counts toward the figure., Meanwhile, The Place at Plainsboro will be built in two phases. The first phase consists of 70 affordable units and a residence for the on-site superintendent on a 10-acre parcel that has been subdivided from the 30-acre tract., The first phase will consist of nine buildings. Eight of the nine buildings will hold eight rental apartments, and the ninth building will hold six apartments. The buildings will resemble townhouses., A mix of 14 one-bedroom units, 34 two-bedroom units and 22 three-bedroom units will be scattered among the nine buildings in Phase One. The apartments will range in size from 650 square feet to 1,055 square feet., The first phase of the development includes the on-site superintendent’s residence, which will be attached to the 1,700-square-foot community building. A half-acre open space recreational area and a playground are also included in this phase, along with 209 parking spaces., The second phase of the development consists of 30 rental apartments, and will be located on a separate 10-acre parcel that also has been subdivided off the larger 30-acre tract. It will be built at some point after Phase One is completed, according to township officials., Phase Two is made up of three buildings that contain eight rental apartments apiece, and a fourth building that will contain six rental apartments. A mix of 6 one-bedroom units, 14 two-bedroom units and 10 three-bedroom units will be dispersed among the four buildings.
