Dozen builders express interest in Nat'l Lead SERA starts over by seeking redevelopers' credentials first BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer The redevelopment of the National Lead property suffered a major setback when Sayreville's chosen builder withdrew its commitment last year. But the Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Agency has begun to look at other developers, and 12 such entities have responded to the agency's Request for Qualifications (RFQs), according to SERA Executive Director Randy Corman. Corman said during Monday's Borough Council meeting that the agency sought RFQs, rather than requests for proposals, based on what happened last year with redeveloper LNR Investment Corp., and in order to bring as many developers into consideration as possible. The fact that a dozen developers submitted their qualifications indicates that a strong interest remains in the 400-plus-acre former factory site along the Raritan River, Corman said. Five of the developers, including V. Paulius and Associates, of Allendale; Forest City Enterprises, of Cleveland, Ohio; Spector Group, of North Hills, N.Y.; BAPS Northeast, of Piscataway; and Royal Albert Palace, of Fords, submitted proposals in 2005. The seven developers who are submitting credentials to SERA for the first time are O'Neill Properties, of King of Prussia, Pa.; Falcone Group, of Boca Raton, Fla.; LCOR Inc., of New York City; Fairfield Residential, of Summit; Grand Prairie, of Texas; ProLogis, of Cranbury; Riverbend Metropolitan, a group of developers from New Jersey; Phillips Development Co. and PBR Planning, both of California; Sayreville Development Partners, a group consisting of National Realty & Development Corp., of New York; and the English Group of New Jersey. SERA's engineers and attorney are reviewing the credentials of the developers, Corman said, adding that meetings will be scheduled with each. The agency was expected to discuss the matter at its meeting tonight at borough hall at 6 p.m. "The [project has] to be phased, because some parts are in need of remediation, [while] some can be built on now," Corman said Corman also said he is fairly confident that the agency will meet the financial requirements of Middlesex County, which loaned SERA money to condemn the National Lead property. It is in the best interests of all parties - the county, the agency and NL, which retains control of cleanup on the site - to reach an agreement, he said. "Protracted litigation is to the detriment of everyone," Corman said. In the event that the county would seize the property, as is possible due to SERA's unpaid debt, the worst case scenario for the borough is that SERA would still have to designate the developer, and the Planning Board would still have to approve the project, Corman said. "We don't lose control," Corman said, adding that the borough would lose some additional benefits of the project in the event that the county took over the property. In 2005, SERA agency received eight proposals for the property, while 12 expressed interest this time, SERA Chairwoman Christine Spezzi noted in a press release. "This is a very positive sign," Spezzi said. "After our professionals have made their initial review, the commissioners will determine the next step at our meeting on April 12." Councilman Dennis Grobelny, who is also a commissioner on SERA, said this is an indication that the project is on the right track. "Companies with national reputations are continuing to show strong interest in the project," Grobelny said. At Monday's council meeting, Corman said that SERA asked the county for more time to pay back the $37 million loan it took out to condemn the National Lead site. It also requested that the county be present during negotiations with National Lead. "Middlesex County granted both of those [requests]," Corman told the governing body. The county can seize the property if the loan is not paid by the new extended deadline of Aug. 1. Republican Mayor Kennedy O'Brien said that LNR dropped out last year after National Lead asked for an exorbitant price from the redeveloper to start the remediation process. Board of Education member Thomas Biesiada also addressed the council at Monday's meeting, sharing his concerns with the project's potential impact on the school system and the way of life in Sayreville, despite the property tax relief that the redevelopment is expected to bring residents. Biesiada raised specific concerns about the Spector Group, which proposed 29,000 housing units, amid commercial and other construction, last year. "The infrastructure [of the borough] can't handle it," Biesiada said, adding that the school system would burst at the seams if the project generated that much housing. Corman noted that the borough is required to approve housing on the property, since the state Council on Affordable Housing requires that housing be built when new jobs are created in a given development. However, Corman said that the RFQ that SERA put out specifically states that a developer is limited to 2,000 residential units. He added that the agency also made it clear to developers that if they include housing in their proposals for the site, they are required to set aside a certain amount of money for school facilities. Corman said this will minimize the number of school-age children who would live on the site. "Otherwise they would have to pay a per-unit fee," he said. Biesiada said later that the developer may provide the district with a new school, but the cost of furnishing the school and hiring new teachers will be a more significant cost to the school system than the building itself. "Anymore housing allowed in Sayreville will affect the quality of life and the school system," Biesiada told the Suburban. "It has the most impact on the tax structure in town. "We want to keep people in the state of New Jersey by giving them a tax break," Biesiada added, "because what is happening is the middle class is leaving the state and seniors can't afford [to stay]." Resident Nellie Malet told the mayor and council that she and resident Dolly Wranovic have been following the progress of the redevelopment negotiations with NL for years, and they fear that the county will take over the project if the agency cannot reach an agreement with a developer by August. "Let's move on with this," Malet said, "and keep that piece of property in Sayreville's hands."