Residents Petition to Stop Kings Highway Apartment Complex

A group of residents opposed to the proposed building of an apartment complex on Kings Highway in Washington Township began taking their own action over the weekend, creating an online petition with the hopes of stopping the project in its tracks. 

Kings Highway, LLC, which owns dozens of industrial use acres at the bottom of Kings Highway is looking to the township for a rezoning ordinance that would allow the property to be converted into residential space.

If approved, the company would eliminate the factory that houses USR Optonix currently and build a rental unit development of 208 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments. Within that group would be approximately 44 low- to moderate-income housing units as mandated by the state’s Council On Affordable Housing (COAH).

Attorney Michael Selvaggi, representing Kings Highway, LLC, along with town planner David Banisch and a host of experts on market studies, traffic patterns, and engineering came before the township committee on Nov. 18 to give an overview of the project and seek advancement on a rezoning ordinance.

No action was taken that night, but residents spoke out about the proposal, and are now drumming up support with the petition.

The full petition can be seen here on change.org, but states:

“We the undersigned are against the development of apartments on the USR Optonix land on Kings Hwy.  Even though the property has a variance on the Highlands Act, we feel that Kings Highway Corporation, LLC should not be allowed to develop more densely than the residents of Washington Twp are legally able. Our concerns include increased traffic, taxes, as well as the maintenance of existing property values, infrastructure, and the wooded scenery of the area.”

The petition was posted Sunday afternoon and as of noon Monday had received 25 online signatures. Supporters have also listed their reasons for opposing the development in the comments section.

Many petition supporters have pointed to traffic in the area as their main concern, while others are worried about environmental impact (the property sits along the Musconetcong River) and the added strain on emergency services.

Kings Highway, LLC brought the proposal to the Washington Township planning board nearly two years ago. While sitting members are unable to publicly discuss their opinions on the matter until a decision is made, a former board member weighed in on the matter.

“This is one of the worst proposals I have seen come through the town process,” said R. Gregory Jones, planning board chairman from 2003-2005. “It eliminates one of our last industrial ratable sites, the traffic patterns are terrible and it adds children into the school system at a time when retraction there offers the last chance at serious property tax relief Washington Township residents will ever see. This site should stay in the towns “savings bank” until a suitable ratable comes along down the road.”

A ‘Gross Misunderstanding’

The conversation between both sides – development and residents – has been misunderstood, which is resulting in the kickback, according to Selvaggi.

The attorney, also a Long Valley resident, was unaware of the petition Monday morning when speaking with Patch, but said he appreciated the residents’ concerns on the matter.

“I think with the evidence on traffic there’s been a gross misunderstanding,” Selvaggi said. “The traffic will be diluted over an extended period of time, and the breakdown of vehicles between 6:30 and 8:30 (a.m.) will be nominal.”

Selvaggi said he feels the experts and development side need to articulate the information better for the residents, especially when it comes to traffic patterns.

“People want to know, ‘what’s my life going to be like,’” if the development is built, Selvaggi said. “(The complex) would have a less negative impact than an industrial site being there.”

While the process has taken longer than expected, the attorney said, it’s one he feels is worth waiting for.

“Washington Township needs additional apartment housing,” he said. “We need a continuum of housing in this town.” Selvaggi said if the development is created, based on a PILOT – payment in lieu of taxes – the complex would create more tax revenue for the township than Optonix did, which was $172,000 annually.

Kings Highway, LLC and its representatives will be discussing that and more at the next Washington Township Committee meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the municipal building.