Bridgewater Approves Plan For Possibly Largest Redevelopment Plan in Township's History

Bridgewater, NJ -- After just about four hours of comments, criticism and discussion, Bridgewater council members voted to approve a new redevelopment plan for the former Sanofi-Aventis property on Route 202/206.

This plan will serve as an outline for possibly the largest development project in the township’s history since the Bridgewater Commons Mall -- which calls for a hotel, supermarket, fitness/wellness center, restaurants with outdoor dining, around 400 luxury apartment units and boutiques.

However, the passing of the ordinance did not come without resistance. Residents packed the council chambers last night, Feb. 18.

Almost 30 residents took to the stand to express their concerns regarding traffic, overpopulating the school system, strain on volunteer emergency services and lack of information to the public about the plan.

Many residents were not fully opposed to the idea of the plan but wanted more time to fully understand and vet the plan first.

“When you get multiple generations speaking to the same thing in one room it needs to be tended to,” said Simone Gaunt, a North Bridge Street resident as she pointed to the crowd. “It’s not to say we don’t want this here, there is a call for redevelopment but not to have lazy leadership in redevelopment.”

Planner Frank Banish, who presented the plan to the council and public, noted that this plan has been in the works since August 2014 and had gone through the planning board before coming before the council.

In the end, at just after 11 p.m., the ordinance was passed with a 3-to-2 vote. Councilmen Christine Rose, Allen Kurdyla and Matthew Moench voting yes and Howard Norgalis and Filipe Pedroso voting no.

“We have an obligation to do something with these buildings, not to leave them deralic and vacant,” Moench said. “You are right that there are no other projects like this in Bridgewater and now we have an opportunity to do something special in Bridgewater.”

“When things change, they can change for the better or worse and we dont have to accept the worse,” Pedroso said.

The approved ordinance adopts a redevelopment plan that calls for 756,800 square feet of new development. The break down will be: hotel (80,000), supermarket (80,000), 400 luxury apartments (507,600) and non residential such as boutiques and small businesses (91,200).

The development will be built where the now-vacant 110-acre Sanofi-Aventis property is on Route 202/206. It is adjacent to the property where the Nestle headquarters will be located. The redevelopment area is 66 acres located in the front of the property. The lab space in the rear of the property remains intact, according to James Naples, Township Administrator.

(Photos by Alexis Tarrazi: Residents pack the Feb. 18 meeting to speak out against the redevelopment plan)