Planning Board To Hear Center Of Excellence Plans Monday

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater Planning Board will hear from the developers of the Center of Excellence project on the now-vacant 100-plus acre Sanofi-Aventis property on Route 202/206 on Monday. This has remained a hotly contested topic in town, dividing residents who are expected to attend the meeting.

The applicant, CIP II/AR Bridgewater Holdings LLC, has plans of building a hotel, supermarket, fitness/wellness center, restaurants with outdoor dining, around 400 luxury apartment units and boutiques. This has been called one of the largest developments in township's history since the Bridgewater Commons mall.

The agenda for the Sept. 23 planning board meeting was posted on Monday, Sept. 23 afternoon showing the preliminary and final major site plans for the COE application will be heard. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Bridgewater Municipal Courtroom at 100 Commons Way.

A group of concerned residents, called Preserve Bridgewater, have already announced the meeting encouraging locals to attend.

"This is our opportunity to speak out. Raise up what you want your community to be like (less traffic, environmentally clean, suburban (not city-like))," Preserve Bridgewater stated.

The development was first proposed in January 2016 and has since received mixed reviews from residents and officials in town.

Concerns include traffic, overpopulating the school system, and strain on volunteer emergency services.

• See Related: Largest Development in Bridgewater's History Proposed
• Related: Bridgewater Approves Plan For Possibly Largest Redevelopment Plan in Township's History
• Related: Bridgewater Officials Argue Over Center Of Excellence Project

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