Changes eyed for PNC site

[Cranbury Press]

Changes eyed for PNC site
Proposal calls for new house, in addition to office and retail

Friday, January 15, 2010 2:05 PM EST
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer

CRANBURY — The former PNC bank on North Main Street could be converted into a bicycle shop and offices and a new house could be built on what is now its parking lot, if a plan presented to the township Development Review Committee last week is approved.

Sweetwater Construction Corp. is under contract to buy the property but has not closed on the sale. Sweetwater owners Ronald Witt Sr. and Nancy Witt presented their proposal for the site to the DRC on Jan. 7.

The plan calls for the bank building to be converted into office space for Sweetwater and retail that is expected to be leased to Knapp’s Cyclery of Lawrenceville. The Witts also propose to remove the drive-through lane, build a house on the existing parking lot and eliminate two of the three driveways onto the property.

Allan Kehrt, vice chairman of the township Planning Board, who attended the meeting but does not sit on the DRC, said it does not appear that the plan will require variances.

”They’re going to spruce up the front of the bank and bring more people into the town,” Mr. Kehrt said. “I think it’s a fabulous thing.”

The house will be a good addition, Mr. Kehrt said, because the parking lot was out of character with the rest of the downtown, which is a long stretch of houses and stores.

”It’s what I call the missing tooth,” he said. “We’ll have that scar on Main Street removed.”

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http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2010/01/17/cranbury_press/news/doc4b50b95ad6864480237566.txt

[Guest]

In the same article, it states that there will be no public parking.

[Guest]

However, there will be some additional on street parking. Also, I am sure the ZB and PB will ask Sweetwater to have parking for Knapp. I don't see this as a huge problem. I see having a bicycle shop as a major coup for the town as that will bring in people.

[Guest]

Yeah, it all sounds positive to me too. The bike shop will be nice if it survives and having another home sounds more attractive than the parking lot. We don't have an parking problems in Cranbury so the lot is not necessary.

All and all, if it happens, a better outcome than the Township using taxpayer money for a redundant library.

[Guest]

3 spaces on Main Street does not equal the 90+ public parking that would have been available if the township had been involved.
I can understand that the economy played a part in this, but it is too bad that we could not plan for the future. We will need pubic parking. We will need a public library. The public library has to plan for the future. It will need a separate facility at some point in the future. We already have two libraries in the same spot. Redundancy is not the issue. Of course, $ is the issue.

[Guest]

[Guest]

I think Main St. shops that can survive the competition from on-line stores and mega-stores are restaurants and niche, specialty stores.

I don't see organic growth in the future, so the parking issue is likely a non-issue.

[Guest]

Agree. The only way you are going to grow the down town is bringing in new business and there are 2 new businesses. A library is not a new business. A bike shop is a new business. They should attract people. Sweetwater will bring in 30 or so employees. So that is a major influx of people in town that would not be there if there were a library in that spot, they will add business for the down town restaurants as the employees will need to eat. If someone opens a deli there they will now be viable.

I would think the businesses would rather have more people to buy their services than have parking and no one to use it.

[Guest 2]

Sounds great! Don't need a separate library -- the one we have is doing a great job and if you really need more selection of books -- the Plainsboro Library is right up the road (about the same distance away as in any larger town) and we are all part of the Middlesex County system.

[Guest]

[Guest]

I think planning is the issue here. I think we will be sorry that we let the PNC opportunity go...

[Guest]

Yes, I am sorry that we lost the opportunity to have the township have this space to not only provide parking for our businesses (which by the way, I often see more than 15 spaces taken at all time of the day), and also provide for the public library which will be having to separate from the school library - this is just the reality of the situation.

[Guest]

We do need more space for the public library. They are doing a fantastic job but are definitely hampered by certain quarters. Also,
I think a lot of people in town do not like to come to the school for the library - non-families that is.

[Guest]

Is the purpose of a business district to have business or to have a lot of free services- parking lots and libraries? If the intent is to have businesses that thrive then this is what we need.

[Guest]

[Guest]