Smart growth summit yields ideas large, small Overall consensus is to create community atmosphere in township BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer EDISON - Could Plainfield Avenue one day become the equivalent of Metuchen's Main Street? That was one of many questions raised at a Nov. 18 township-sponsored Smart Growth Planning Initiative held at Herbert Hoover Middle School. The event included representatives from the municipal government, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ Transit. Armed with colored magic markers and oversized maps of sites around Edison including Route 27 and the Revlon site, approximately 100 residents drew and discussed their thoughts, over the course of the day, on how Edison's layout and infrastructure could be improved. Suggestions ranged from the basics, such as improving the quality of sidewalks and offering bike paths on Route 27, to ways to create "a sense of place" in Edison, similar to Metuchen's Main Street. Mayor Jun Choi and Hannah Twaddel, of Renaissance Planning Consultants hired by the township, were among the speakers who opened the day. Twaddel said that smart growth principles should be used to combat traffic congestion. "The original thinking about congestion has changed," Twaddel said. "Originally, as more and more people would want to use the road, we would add more lanes. For a while, that would be good, and we thought that at some point, development would stop and we would be able to handle the traffic. But as more and more people continue to drive further and further out, land becomes accessible further out, and that land would again be developed." The best way to deal with this pattern is to apply smart growth principles, Twaddel said. "Smart growth is well-planned, well-managed growth that improves the quality of life for residents," she said. "It supports livable neighborhoods with a variety of price ranges. We want to look at preserving open space and farmland, directing development towards existing communities, and fostering distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place." To create a sense of place in the township, Choi said Edison was "too big" to have a "single community meeting spot." "We need multiple community meeting spots," he said. "It would involve rezoning parcels piece by piece, and implementing new laws that would encourage growth in certain sections of the community and stopping suburban sprawl. It would require minor tweaking of the master plan, though generally speaking, it is a good document." Choi said that the township would "set a very high ethical standard" for how redevelopment would occur. "Thanks to the township council we have already implemented a redevelopers' pay-to-play reform ordinance," he said. "With the areas that are in need, such as those plots of land that are redevelopment areas, we cannot receive any political contributions from developers that work in redevelopment areas. We are doing this for the right reasons." After the speakers, residents seated at approximately 30 tables of Herbert Hoover's cafeteria informally discussed their thoughts and opinions with NJDOT and NJ Transit officials, while using magic markers to draw out their ideas on oversized maps of Edison township spread out on each table. At the end of the day, residents presented their conclusions to one another. Echoing the thoughts of many that day, Suttons Lane resident Eva Cheng said there was no "feeling of downtown" in Edison. "There is no place in Edison to go out at night and relax before coming back," Cheng said. "Once, one night at 10 p.m., my daughter told me she was going out. I asked her where at that hour she was going, and she said Metuchen." Particularly passionate was resident Sanmati Naik, herself an architect and planner. Rather than concentrating efforts on redeveloping Route 27, Naik said an "unbelievable opportunity" existed to transform Plainfield Avenue into a street analogous to Metuchen's Main Street. "There should be a Main Street," Naik said. "I can never take a walk in the downtown with my husband. Where would we walk to? There is no social life in Edison. It does not have to be this way, and there can really be something. If we had Princeton-like pubs and restaurants, it would develop that life." She explained her thoughts further at the end of the day. "The perfect position would be on Plainfield Avenue," Naik said. "You cannot go far from the [Edison] train station, as so many people depend on it for transportation. There could be small shops, cafes, pubs, and all these little things which make a Main Street." This is possible on Plainfield Avenue today because of all the vacant land and wide setbacks currently on the street, she said. "It is a minimum intervention and maximum [benefit] plan," Naik said. However, Sharon Stankevich of Winthrop road said, at least basic improvements to Route 27 should be made. "The quality of the sidewalks on Route 27 should be consistent," Stankevich said. "They could do a sidewalk with a bike path. It would be good to be able to walk or bike there, as you can't do anything without taking your car. It could be more pedestrian-friendly." Also in attendance that day were township council members Robert Diehl and Antonia Ricigliano. After the day was over, Ricigliano said she felt the discussion was "very positive." "The interest level for a Saturday was good," she said. "I think many of the points that were brought up were valid. I think it was very beneficial, and it helped me." Even former mayoral opponent and current president of the Edison Community Association, Bill Stephens, agreed. "It appeared to be very successful and they did a great job. We are totally in support of moving forward," said Stephens.