300 kids expected in Little Move

WEST WINDSOR -- A Hillier Architecture error in the estimated number of school children who will be generated by the 1,000 housing units proposed for the Princeton Junction Train Station redevelopment raises the number from 30 to 300, according to township and Hillier officials.

J. Robert Hillier said last week the number of children would be 0.3 per 100 units. In fact, the correct number would be 0.3 children per single unit for a total of about 300 in the apartments and townhouses that are part of "the Little Move" plan most favored by residents.

Attendees had four concepts from which to choose at the March 17 workshop on redevelopment, all of them featuring 1,000 housing units.

According to Bradley Walters, a senior associate at Hillier, "Bob (Hillier) made a very minor error in his numbers." He added that all four plans proposed by Hillier projected between 300 and 350 school children.

The final workshop for hands-on public participation is set for Thursday night at Grover Middle School. The township council is considering a "master list" of questions to pose to Hillier. One of the questions will be the number of "market value" units included in the 1,000.

Council President Linda Geevers also said the township would prefer ownership over rental units, a preference expressed to her by residents.

"From a policy perspective, I do not want to see a massive amount of rental units due to the constant turnover of those units," said Geevers. "I feel that residents are more engaged in our community and in our schools when they own their dwelling."

According to West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional school board financial director Stan Katz, who produced a definitive study on the impact of housing in the township on school enrollment, townhouses will produce more children than apartments.

"Assuming a relatively 'child-unfriendly' (no child amenities such as pools, playgrounds) environment, and a 20 percent affordable-housing component, 1,000 new apartments in West Windsor can be expected to generate about 300 new school children, or 0.3 students per unit built. If the buildings are townhouses, we should expect a minimum of 0.35 children per unit," Katz maintained.

While parking and traffic are major issues in the township, the number of housing units is becoming the focus of most concern. Hillier maintains 1,000 is the minimum number of housing units needed to make the project financially feasible.

No one was available for comment at Hillier Architecture yesterday because the office was closed due to weather predictions.

Contact Joyce J. Persico at jpersi co@njtimes.com or at (609) 989-5662.