Hillsborough Towne Center Associates Seek Variances to Expand

The proposed expansion of the Shoppes at Woods Tavern—particularly how it fits with Town Center ordinances—was questioned by Board of Adjustment members Wednesday night.

Hillsborough Towne Center Associates, the applicant, is seeking several variances to further develop the 5.14 acres in the Town Center district with the addition of a two two-story mixed-use buildings and a three-story building (with a total of 26 residential units) in the rear of the existing buildings. Among the variances that are required are the following:

• Allowing only office use and not necessarily retail on the first floors of the new buildings
• Maintaining only a single residential unit above the existing unit as opposed to the 18 required by ordinance
• Maintaining the existing 34 parking spaces in the front of the current building facing Route 206, since the building is set back 73 feet from the roadway instead of the Town Center maximum of 5 feet.

Board member John Stamler said, “I’m not getting that Town Center feel from this.”

Chairman Helen Haines agreed, saying, “If the town wanted to have that downtown feel, this is not even beginning to head in that direction.”

David Gardner, a principal in the Hillsborough Towne Center Associates, said, “We tried to comply the best we could. The only way we could have put apartments on the top floor of the existing building would have been to empty out the building entirely. Plus, we have tenants with long-term leases.”

As for the parking, he stated, “We genuinely believe that this building will be substantially injured economically if we do what you’re asking (move all parking to the rear of the building). It just won’t work. It’s asking us to commit economic suicide to do that.”

If the township were to gain control of Route 206 in the future, he said he would agree to incorporate wording about parking in the rear of the building into future leases.

“The community and Township Committee have put a lot of thought into the Town Center. This is the key starting point. To keep it going as it is is to pretty much ignore the master plan,” Haines said.

William Savo, attorney for the applicant, stressed, “This is the beginning of implementing the concept of the master plan, aesthetically and by improving traffic plans.”

Gardner added, “It’s not exactly what you want but you need somebody to start it. This is a good way to kind of jump start it.”

Bob Hiebel, engineer for the applicant, reported that an agreement had been reached with the owners of Petrock’s regarding the 12 angled parking spaces next to the restaurant that are actually on the applicant’s property. The agreement would eliminate one driveway on Amwell Road and still allow access to both properties.

The board also heard testimony from the applicant’s architect and traffic engineer as well as an expert in managing and leasing retail properties. The hearing is scheduled to continue with testimony from a planner on May 4.