Neighbors talk about lakeside development

BY TARA PETERSEN
Staff Writer

CHARLES W. KIM A North Brunswick plan for 96 homes may change the tranquil landscape across this Farrington Lake inlet off Riva Avenue in East Brunswick.

Many differ in their opinions of what should be done with a parcel along Farrington Lake in North Brunswick, but most say 96 single-family homes aren’t the answer.

Builder Jack Morris of Edgewood Properties has informed North Brunswick Township officials that his firm has a contract to purchase the 70-acre Pulda farm, off Old Georges Road, and plans to build 96 single-family homes there in a subdivision called Farrington Lake Estates.

Milltown resident Alan Godber, vice president of the Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership, said he personally would like to see the land preserved as farmland. He said there are "lots of viable" options available to sell the land to another farmer and to sell the development rights so it will always be used as a farm.

"It’s one of the last farms in North Brunswick. People in this area think farms don’t count and aren’t important," Godber said. "New Jersey farms are some of the best farms in the country, and we’re covering [them] up with blacktop and concrete as fast as we can."

Milltown Borough Councilman Sean Leary, who is liaison to the Environmental Commission, said he believes Middlesex County should step in to preserve the land for open space, as they did on Washington Avenue in Milltown.

"I think the county should take immediate action to preserve that as open space," Leary said. "Washington Avenue was slated for over 100 units — some assisted living, some age-restricted. The county stepped in to preserve the open space by purchasing the property from the developer."

Though the land is currently zoned R-1 residential, North Brunswick township recently introduced an ordinance that would rezone about 100 acres including the Pulda Farm for a planned adult community (PAC).

The Planning Board recommended the ordinance based on a deficiency of senior housing in the township’s master plan, officials said.

Several residents who wanted to see the property preserved for open space came forward to oppose the rezoning. As a result, the Township Council delayed its decision until the Planning Board could once again review the ordinance.

Before a rezoning decision could be reached, Morris presented the township with his plans for a single-family home subdivision.

If the land is rezoned, however, Toll Bros. is interested in building a 485-unit senior housing development at the site, according to North Brunswick officials.

Officials have said that large numbers of residents would have to show up at public meetings before they would consider condemning the farm.

In 2000, North Brunswick condemned the 105-acre Otken farm, off Route 130, for open space.

Morris said he was aware of the township’s plans to rezone the property and that his firm is prepared to move quickly.

Township Attorney Ron Gordan said the township could rezone the property up until the point when the Planning Board would vote on Morris’ proposal.

Leary said that the debacle was the result of poor planning.

"It’s an issue that all the towns in the county should look at to carefully review and revise their master plans," Leary said. "Had this been done earlier to reflect the change in the intended use, this might not have become a crisis, and open space is certainly a crisis right now."

Charlene and Jack Keelan, residents of Wood Avenue in North Brunswick, whose property backs up to the Pulda farm, said they are mostly concerned with their taxes going up if the single-family homes prevailed.

"I don’t think the township needs any more homes. What is it going to do to our tax rate, between the apartments, condos and single-family homes? It’s just getting out of sight," Jack said.

Area development, he said, has been increasing rapidly since they moved to their home 14 years ago. He said they chose to move there because, compared to surrounding towns, the taxes were low.

"I’d like to see someone put some controls on the development," he said.

Both said they would much rather see a retirement community there, since they feel it would be less of a tax burden.

Bill Wolfe, who owns a home across the lake on Riva Avenue in East Brunswick, also said he would rather see an adult community than the single-family homes.

"The senior community would be easier on the area," Wolfe said. "You won’t need school buses going through there. [Regular residential housing] would lead to more traffic and a burden on the schools."

Although he has some concerns, Wolfe does not believe residents have much say in what happens to that land.

"Once these things get going they take on a life of their own and there isn’t much you can do," Wolfe said.

Leary said he understood the rights of the landowner to sell his property, but that the township has to consider the needs of the whole community.

"It’s a complex issue that impacts the character of the town forever," Leary said.

Godber said that any type of housing development would harm the environment and would cost taxpayers more money than a farm would.

"It’s a bad idea to turn it into any housing complex. It’s a drinking water supply," Godber said of Farrington Lake.

Road paving and the run-off from the buildings would lead to pollution in Farrington Lake, Godber said, adding that the development would also damage the wildlife.

"There are all kinds of animals — birds, fish ..." Godber said.

"I’m not against development; I’m against stupid development," he added. "If we need senior housing, I don’t think the right place to do it is to take the last farm in town."