16 - 07 - 18 – 203

RESOLUTION

GRANTING A WAIVER FROM SECTION 8E(7) OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BRIDGEWATER ADOPTING A “REDEVELOPMENT PLAN” FOR LOTS 3.01, 13.01 AND 14 IN BLOCK 329, KNOWN AS FORMER WEYERHAUSER PROPERTY, REQUIRING THE REDEVELOPER TO SEEK AND OBTAIN APPROVAL FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF EAST MAIN AND A PROPOSED NEW STREET

WHEREAS, the Township of Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset and State of New Jersey, a public body corporate and politic of the State of New Jersey is authorized pursuant to the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, N.J.S.A. 40A: 12A-1 et seq. (the “Redevelopment Law”), to determine whether certain parcels of land within the Township constitute an area in need of rehabilitation and/or an area in need of redevelopment; and

WHEREAS, on July 15, 2013 and September 5, 2013, the Bridgewater Township Council adopted Resolution Numbers 13-07-15-174 and 13-09-05-203, respectively (Exhibits A & B), which requested the Bridgewater Township Planning Board to undertake a preliminary investigation and conduct a public hearing in order to determine whether or not the former Weyerhauser property, known as Lots 3.01, 13.01 and 14 in Block 329 (hereinafter referred to as the “study area”), is an “area in need of redevelopment” in accordance with the criteria set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-5 of the Redevelopment Law; and

WHEREAS, the Planning Board, after concluding its study of the matter, issued a report to the Township Council entitled “Preliminary Investigation Report for Determination of an Area in Need of Redevelopment in accordance with criteria set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1 et seq. for Lots 3.01, 13.01 and 14 in Block 329, Township of Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey, Final December 9, 2013,” (Exhibit C) wherein the Board recommended its conclusion that the study area met the criteria of “an area in need of redevelopment,” in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-5 of the Redevelopment Law; and

WHEREAS, on January 16, 2014, the Township Council adopted Resolution No. 14-01-16-033 which designated Lots 3.01, 13.01 and 14 in Block 329, the “Study Area,” as an area in need of redevelopment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1 et seq. and directed the Planning Board to prepare a Redevelopment Plan for the “Study Area” pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-7 of the Redevelopment Law; and

WHEREAS, the Township Council adopted Ordinance Number 15-09 adopting a Redevelopment Plan, Lots 3.01, 13.01 and 14 in Block 329, known as the former Weyerhauser Property; and

WHEREAS, Section 8E(7) required as a condition of site plan approval for the Redeveloper to submit plans to the County of Somerset and obtain approval for the installation of a traffic light at East Main Street and a proposed new street; and


WHEREAS, Section 8E(7) further provides that the Redeveloper is to copy the Township on all correspondence to Somerset County as to the aforementioned traffic light and to notify Bridgewater Township concerning all meetings with the traffic light; and

WHEREAS, the Ordinance further provides that if the traffic light was not approved by the County that the Redeveloper could request the Township Council to waive traffic light as a condition of site plan approval; and

WHEREAS, the Redeveloper copied the Township on all copies of correspondence with the County of Somerset concerning the traffic light; and

WHEREAS, representatives of the Township attended meetings with the County and Redeveloper concerning the installation of the traffic light which resulted in the County rejecting the traffic light installation request; and

WHEREAS, the Redeveloper appeared at a Township Council meeting on June 20, 2016 and requested a Waiver of the traffic light as a condition of site plan approval; and

WHEREAS, the Township Council finds that a bonafide effort was made by the Redeveloper to obtain the aforesaid traffic light and despite the efforts of the Redeveloper and Township, the County will not approve the installation of the aforesaid traffic light.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Township Council of the Township of Bridgewater, County of Somerset and State of New Jersey that:

1)  The Redeveloper’s request for a Waiver of Section 8E(7) requiring the installation of a traffic light as a condition of the site plan approval is granted;

2)  As a condition of such Waiver, the Redeveloper shall install a new road as shown on attached Plan, known as Preliminary and Final Site Plan for Patriot Greens Overall Plan, Block 329, Lots 3.01, 13.01 & 14 Township of Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey dated 05/18/16, which shows no vehicle access to local streets except for emergency purposes, and

3)  The Redeveloper shall submit an updated traffic study upon the Redevelopment project being completed and a minimum of 198 units being occupied. The updated traffic letter shall be provided to the Bridgewater Township Engineer.

Introduced / Seconded / Council / Aye / Nay / Abstain / Absent
Moench / ü 
ü  / Norgalis / P
ü  / Rose / P
Kurdyla / P
Pedroso / ü 

Adopted: July 18, 2016