Units for seniors approved
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK- Anew senior housing development that will be built on Route 1 north near Route 522 was approved by the Planning Board on Feb. 20.

The houses, built by Matzel & Mumford (M&M), will look more like mansions than apartment complexes. There are 16 individual units and three affordable housing units in each building.

"It's a wood-frame, three-story complex," said architect Jim Riviello. "It's 50 feet high. The main front entrance to the building, we will dress it up and make it feel like a lobby. There is an elevator the residents can use."

There will be 351 parking spots at the community, where only 262 are required, to ensure that there will be enough visitor spaces. There is about a half-space of visitor parking for every regular space. In addition, each unit will have a spot in a garage except for the three COAH units.

"You can pull into the garage and you'll be safely in your unit," Riviello said.

As required by the master plan, there will be an 8-foot bike path on Route 522.

Mayor Frank Gambatese raised concerns about children wandering onto Route 1, so M&M agreed to build a fence.

Councilman Charles Carley mentioned noise along Route 1 and Route 522, but David Fisher, the vice president of governmental affairs forM&M, said the proximity to the roads would be clearly stated in their public offering statement.

"There is substantially less traffic than non-age-restricted units," said traffic engineer John Rea. "There are no school-age children involved. Many are retired or semiretired and are not on the roads at problem hours. There will be about 30 to 40 peak hour trips, at 7 to 8 a.m. or 5 to 6 p.m. These folks tend to avoid peak hours to the extent that they can."

The board unanimously approved the application.

"I felt the application would be a different type of product that would be affordable," Carley said.

"The design of the units are very welldone," Gambatese said. "I look forward to our seniors moving in."

"It's a nice layout," said Planning Board member Paul Prodromo. "As I get closer to 60, I can see myself living in a place like this."