Community input sought on train station developments
BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer

EDISON- A local firm is seeking residents' input on what they do and don't want near the Edison Train Station. Representatives from the firm Intercap Holdings, which owns the 43-acre plot of land that might see development of some sort over the course of the next few years, wants to hold a series of community forums to get opinions from those in the area.

If this sounds vague, this is because the specifics haven't been worked out, according to Jim Constantine, a planner with Looney Ricks Kiss Inc. To really work the concept out, he said, his firmwill conduct a series of community forums to get community input, starting March 9 at the Pines Manor on Route 27. The series of workshops, he said, is where the public will come in.

"We're not up to conception yet…that's why we're bringing the community on board, trying to get everyone who is interested and everyone who has ideas, thoughts or concerns to get around the table, join us and roll up their sleeves," said Constantine."

The Edison Train Station was one of the areas singled out during the township's Smart Growth Planning Initiative last year, which identified spaces that could be improved.

Jonathan Jaffe, a spokesperson for the project, said that it's still too early to call what could arise near the Edison Train Station a "transit village," noting that the term is very technical in nature and describes a very specific type of development.

At the moment, the land has a few warehouses and industrial buildings, partially used, but Constantine said that once the community weighs in on things, many other things could potentially be there instead.

"It's a process that will have unprecedented community outreach and involvement, certainly beyond what we believe has ever happened before in Edison or Middlesex or even in New Jersey, recognizing there are other community involvement processes and there are others that are going on. But this one will be marked by the extensive nature of their outreach," said Constantine.

According to Constantine, themeetings will be held March 9 from noon to 5 p.m., March 11 from 6 to 9 p.m., and March 15 from noon to 5 p.m., all taking place at the Pines Manor, 2085 Route 27. From there, the firmwill take the ideas and suggestions and refine them into plans and drawings, and during another set of community workshops in April, confirm whether what they came up with is what the public wants. If there is a consensus, the firm will send the plans to the township, whereupon they will be subject to the same review process that all development in the township goes through. Constantine said that he is very hopeful that the area around the Edison Train Station can be a point of pride for residents.

"I think it's an important opportunity for the citizens of Edison to participate proactively in creating a vision and a plan in a key location in the township. It's the 'what if,' 'what if it become a landmark' that creates pride and identity for everyone who lives in Edison, a big 'what if,' " said Constantine.