Zoners OK age-restricted 112-unit housing complex Concern over adequate parking was expressed during hearing BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE - The Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously approved Autumn Hills Estates LLC's application last week to build an age-restricted 112-unit residential housing complex, which is across the street from Fords Park. The site will include 12 affordable housing units, which was praised by board members. "We want to thank the applicant for providing 10 percent of the 112-unit residential housing complex for affordable units," said board Chairman Bernard McLaughlin before he voted in favor of the application on March 27. The proposed affordable housing units are consistent with the township's master plan to bring more senior housing into the township. The site is located north of King Georges Post Road at the end of Hoover Way. The subject property contains one lot for a total of 177,809 square feet, approximately 4.08 acres. The site is located in the B-3 Highway Business zone. The property contains an existing parking area easement for Fords Park and vacant land. Michael Drobny, the applicant's professional engineer, testified that the property was never used as a retail business and at one point was used by the Home News Tribune. The applicant proposes to construct an age-restricted (55 years old and over) 112- unit residential housing complex. The building will consist of four stories with 64 one-bedroom units and 48 two-bedroom units. The plan includes 166 parking spaces, with eight of those spaces reserved for the handicapped. The site plan also provides lighting and landscaping. All units would be rental units. Kevin Settendrino, the applicant's architect, testified that the ground floor of the complex would include stair and elevator towers, a storage area, mailboxes, and a security desk. The second to fourth floors would contain 28 dwelling units per floor, two meeting rooms per floor, and a balcony for each unit. The architect added that there would be passive recreational areas including a gazebo and two patio areas. James Higgins, the applicant's planner, testified that the proposed application was the best use for the area because it would create a great synergy between the extended stay hotel, which is to the north of the proposed complex, and the Fords Park, which the occupants of the units could utilize. Board members expressed concern about the proposed parking spaces, since the 166 proposed spaces are 46 fewer than what is required. Frank Miskovich, the applicant's traffic engineer, testified that the 211 parking spaces required were more consistent with garden apartment complexes, which could contain families with teenagers. "I took the average parking spaces of garden apartment complexes and highrise complexes," he said. Miskovich added that he conducted a parking-space analysis from surrounding age-restricted communities including Woodbridge Hills and the Hyde Park apartments in the township, and the Park Terrace apartments in Rahway. "In my opinion, we over-parked [this application]," he said.