Controversial Affordable Housing Project Seeks Route 202/206 Access In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Alternative access into a controversial affordable housing project off Route 202/206 in Bridgewater is now being explored.

Attorney Jason Hyndman, of Price, Meese, Shulman & D'Arminio, for the applicant Wheatsworth Properties Urban Renewal, LLC, told the Bridgewater Planning Board they have started the process of seeking access through Route 202/206.

The lot, which is located next to the Time To Eat Diner off the Somerville Circle, had initially planned to use Cornell Boulevard in Somerville as its access point.

Both Somerville and a group of residents have filed lawsuits citing the application's plan to use Cornell Boulevard to route traffic through Somerville instead of Route 202/206, and impact the character of the area.

Now, the applicant is seeking an alternative access onto Route 202/206.

"It's quite involved because it's a very complicated matter with [New Jersey Department of Transportation]. So it's going to take a bit of time for us to fully flesh that out," said Hyndman at the March 31 special meeting.

Hydman said that if the access on Route 202/206 is granted by NJDOT it may change the building placement of the project.

"It might be reoriented. It might be shifted. But the building footprints, the floor plans, the architectural elements, they're not changing," said Hydman.

The application from Wheatsworth Properties Urban Renewal, LLC, looking to split the lot to build a four-unit apartment building for disabled veterans and an 11-unit apartment building for moderate and low-income residents.

The units would be 100 percent affordable and will contribute to the Township's New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) fourth-round affordable housing obligation of 421 units.

The Borough of Somerville and Somerville residents Jennifer Fleischer, Jason Rodker, Brian Reilly, and Bridgewater residents Richard Cash, George Cook, and Barbara Cook — who live near the site — both filed lawsuits against Bridgewater in opposition to this plan.

The application hearing was carried to April 21.

To see the full application, click here.

Previous Reporting:

• Controversial Route 202/206 Affordable Housing Plans Presented In Bridgewater
• Somerville Joins Fight Against Bridgewater, Files Lawsuit Over Affordable Housing Plan
• Bridgewater Rezones Land On Route 202/206 For Affordable Housing Despite Opposition

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