Frequently Asked Questions
What is a transit village?
Why do we need a transit village in North Brunswick?
Why is the transit village considered a Smart Growth redevelopment?
How will the transit village affect my municipal taxes?
How will the transit village impact our municipal services?
What type of housing will be built in the transit village?
How does the loft-style housing in the transit village impact our schools?
Traffic around the transit village will be impacted. How will this be addressed?
What is a transit village?
Transportation plays a key role in the creation of sustainable communities. Planning a mixed-use village adjacent to public transportation is known as a "Transit Village", and is an excellent model for Smart Growth because it matches growth with public infrastructure and public transit investments.
The transit village in North Brunswick, will include a new train station and bus service for NJ TRANSIT commuters.
A North Brunswick Transit Village will serve as the town center for North Brunswick Township, creating an authentic main street neighborhood and providing a sense of community for residents of all ages. It will become a focal point of the community - a gathering place for activities such as concerts, festivals, fireworks, town-wide events, and parades.
Walkable and bikable civic spaces will offer residents the opportunity to socialize in the plaza, relax in the pocket-park areas throughout the property, and shop or grab a bite to eat at a sidewalk café.
A full-service hotel will service both business needs and residents by becoming a popular choice for special events, meetings and hosting out-of-town guests.
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Why do we need a transit village in North Brunswick?
A proposed new train station is the catalyst for the North Brunswick Transit Village. This new transit village will provide a sense of "place" and become a focal point of the community – bringing people together for town-wide civic events, festivals and concerts, as well as during their everyday shopping or dining.
In addition, the longest stretch on the Northeast Corridor Line without a train station lies between Princeton Jct. and New Brunswick. Building a new train station in North Brunswick will provide an extraordinary solution to commuters for much needed access to NJ TRANSIT and its network. A new train station will bring immeasurable benefits to all area residents as train stations have proven in other communities.
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Why is the transit village considered a Smart Growth redevelopment?
The proposed transit village in North Brunswick is a shining example of a Smart Growth redevelopment project. The transit village adheres to the core principles of Smart Growth by planning a mixed-use community with walkable neighborhoods, mass transit accessibility, sustainable economic and social development, and preserved forested open space.
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How will the transit village affect my municipal taxes?
A North Brunswick Transit Village will significantly increase the municipal tax base and positively effect revenue flow for the Township of North Brunswick. This is known as a "positive ratable".
Over the past the property taxes have increased in many areas of New Jersey including in North Brunswick Township. The transit village will provide an opportunity to reverse this trend by generating a profitable new tax ratable for the Township.
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How will the transit village impact our municipal services?
The transit village is designed and will be privately owned and operated to be a self-sustaining community and to maintain many maintenance services independently. All of the roadways, for example, will be private roads. This will mean that the transit village would have limited impact on municipal services.
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What type of housing will be built in the transit village?
The transit village will be a higher-density, walkable community offering a wider range of residential housing types for both rental and sale.
Rental apartment housing will be an especially important housing option for young professionals beginning their careers or saving to buy a home. This housing option will also be appealing to empty nesters and senior citizens looking for a 24/7 downtown lifestyle. Townhome style streets for those interested in owning will be available with hidden garages and front steps leading to the sidewalk much like many venerable old American towns.
The proposed type of housing will play a significant role in promoting a vibrant neighborhood, with ongoing activity where people live, work, shop, dine, and enjoy the arts. This dynamic will be the single most important key to the success of the transit village’s long-term viability and sustainability.
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How does the loft-style housing in the transit village impact our schools?
A published study by Rutgers University, has found that Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD) do not result in large numbers of additional school age children, and in fact produce far fewer school age children than developments with larger, single-family homes.
Additionally, when school revenue is compared to school costs in the proposed North Brunswick Transit Village, the result is a very substantial revenue surplus.
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Traffic around the transit village will be impacted. How will this be addressed?
Before any new business open, the Developer will be making very significant improvements to three intersections in the vicinity of Main Street. Route 1 at Aaron Rd, at Commerce Boulevard and at Adams/Cozzens from Rt. 27 to Rt. 1 will get very costly upgrades at no cost to taxpayers. These privately funded improvements, including new traffic signals, will greatly reduce congestion in the local area and allow the roadways to accommodate the new development and the train station.