Planner urges transit‑oriented development around NJ Transit lot as key to meeting affordable‑housing goals

The Sayreville Economic and Redevelopment Agency heard a detailed presentation on the town’s housing plan and a push to pursue transit‑oriented development around the NJ Transit commuter parking lot.

Vina, the board planner, told commissioners the transit‑oriented area covers roughly "50–55 acres" surrounding the NJ Transit lot and could support mixed‑use, pedestrian‑friendly development that reduces auto dependence. She said the transit‑village designation — a separate, more rigorous status administered by New Jersey Department of Transportation — opens access to state funding but requires a lengthy application, public participation and coordination with NJ Transit and NJDOT. "The designation is much more complicated and it opens you up to a lot of state funding," she said.

Why it matters: The planner said transit‑oriented development would help Sayreville meet its round‑four affordable‑housing obligation. Under the approach described, a project already in the housing plan could yield 173 units plus "48 and a half" bonus units under the state’s one‑plus‑one incentives and additional credits for special‑needs housing. Vina also cited the Tova/Gillette Towers expansion (16 units) as another component tied to bonus calculations.

Commissioners asked practical questions about ownership, timing and intergovernmental negotiation. The planner said NJ Transit and the state Economic Development Authority have previously moved parcels between agencies but that the commuter parking lot in question is not part of a larger NJ Transit–EDA transaction, meaning the town could potentially advance mixed‑use redevelopment without losing commuter parking. "If we take advantage of that parking lot, a bus stop … you can create a mixed‑use development right in that neighborhood where people can just walk and take the bus," she said.

She described next steps: outreach to property owners, preparatory studies to satisfy a pre‑application checklist (pedestrian connectivity, bicycle paths, public participation), and a pre‑application meeting with NJDOT and NJ Transit. She cautioned that designation is time‑consuming — DOT review can take more than a year — and that actual development typically moves forward only when a private developer expresses interest.

Board reaction: Chairman John Zrowski and other commissioners praised the planner’s expertise and said the transit‑oriented approach presents a rare site advantage for affordable housing. The chairman emphasized the early stage of the effort and promised broad public notice and owner involvement before any approvals.

What’s next: The planner said a revised redevelopment plan amendment for the TOA (transit‑oriented area) will be presented at the next meeting and staff will begin outreach to property owners and state agencies. The board also flagged Route 35 corridor planning and the Sunshine Biscuit site as near‑term planning items that relate to the transit village conversation.