Massive Warehouse Development Faces Mercer County Scrutiny

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — The recently approved 5.5 million square feet warehouse project in Mercer County has created much uproar and now faces further scrutiny from the County.

Last month the West Windsor Planning Board approved the application 6-2, with 80 conditions. The project now needs approval from the County’s Planning Board before it goes ahead.

And according to County officials, the application in its current form is incomplete.

“The County has received the Bridge Point 8 application and has found it to be incomplete. Once the applicant has submitted all the required materials and the application is determined to be complete, it will be slated for an upcoming Mercer County Planning Board agenda,” said the County’s Deputy Director of Communication, Michael Boonin.

The Bridge Point 8 project is being planned on the American Cyanamid tract, on the corner of Route 1 and Quaker Bridge Road and within the Planned Commercial Development (PCD) District.

The project will include seven warehouse buildings and is expected to be completed in two phases. Phase I involves developing three warehouse buildings of 3 million square feet and the construction of a new road from the intersection of Quakerbridge Road and Avalon Way through the intersection of Route 1 and Nassau Park Boulevard.

The County said that the project will result in a 62 percent increase in traffic at Clarkesville and Quakerbridge roads.

But despite the upcoming scrutiny, the county said it has no jurisdiction over establishing specific land use or square footage of a development project. In other words, the County’s legal authority in the matter is quite limited.

“This site was rezoned for warehouse and commercial uses by West Windsor Township because of a settlement agreement entered into by the Township and the developer,” Boonin said.

And because the site fronts County roads, it will be reviewed by the County’s Planning Board.

“The County Planning Board’s legal authority is limited to the impact of development on individual County Roads, the Regional County Road Network and County drainage structures,” Boonin said. “County Planning and Engineering staff review and develop conditions of approval that will mitigate, to the greatest extent possible, the effects of the proposed development on County infrastructure.”

During the highly-charged meeting in West Windsor last month the public booed the mayor and Planning Board members. They accused the board of failing to protect the long-term interests of residents, despite the strong opposition.

According to a petition on behalf of residents from Lawrenceville, Hamilton, Princeton, Plainsboro and other neighboring towns, the project is being built on flood-prone wetlands and is bound to increase truck traffic in the area.

Officials from other towns including Princeton are keeping a keen eye on the project as it has the potential to impact township roads and traffic.

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