SENTINEL North Brunswick / South Brunswick

September 27, 2012

JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

Trees being cut along Rte. 1 in N.B. will be replaced
Construction of MainStreetNB project is under way

PHOTO COURTESY OF
NORTH BRUNSWICK TOD ASSOCIATES

The first step of the MainStreetNB mixed-use project will be to clear trees from the former Johnson & Johnson property that faces Route 1 north.

Starting this week, equipment will be visible on the section of the 212-acre property. Roughly 360 trees will be taken down during the process, though 1,400 shade trees will be replanted on the site, including maples and oaks, flowering and nonflowering varieties, according to Jonathan Frieder, principle of North Brunswick TOD Associates, the developer of the property.

Frieder added that any trees under six inches tall will be moved to a different location on the site and then replanted in the future.

The oak and maple trees that are cut down will be turned into wood material to be used within the property’s construction when possible, he said.

According to Joseph Sikora, who is responsible for the landscaping design of the project, there will be an excess of 10,000 landscaping pieces throughout the site, including trees, shrubbery and other components at its completion.

The final site plan approval for Phase 1 of the project was granted on Sept. 11 by the township’s Planning Board. Several buildings containing residential units, retail space, and restaurants are planned, as well as a piazza.

The remainder of the property can be developed contingent upon N.J. Transit granting approval for a train station at the site. A decision is expected soon.