S.B. trying to avoid court date over warehouse
Discussions are ongoing between officials, Matrix Development Group
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Township officials are talking with the Matrix Development Group about how to use land the company owns on Friendship Road, near Route 130. Matrix filed a lawsuit against the town in January and township officials hope to avoid a court date.

"We met with them and we went over all their options and different plans," said Mayor Frank Gambatese. "Some of the ideas we liked."

Matrix had proposed to build a new warehouse last year at the intersection of Route 130 and Friendship Road. At a Planning Board meeting last August, more than 100 residents came out to voice their displeasure because of traffic and environmental concerns. The board eventually rejected the proposal.

Then, in October, tensions flared even more when the council rezoned the property from industrial to residential, ending any chance Matrix would have of building there.

Gambatese said that in the meetings with Matrix, four different options were introduced to the township. Two of the four options were deemed as good ones by the township, although the mayor said they would need some tweaking. He did not want to go into details about the plans before they are finalized.

"I'm very optimistic that we can reach an agreement on at least part of the property," Gambatese said.

The mayor also believes the groups will be able to settle outside of court.

"I wasn't as optimistic with that maybe two or three months ago," Gambatese said, "but it looks like there is something here we can work with."

The two sides will meet again shortly, although neither side is in a hurry.

"The economic conditions are not really that good for building right now anyway," Gambatese said.

Matrix officials could not be reached by press time for comment.