Board, builder agree on final sections of LaMer Market conditions prompt changes to remaining 481 units BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer SAYREVILLE - With the go-ahead from borough officials, the developer of LaMer is drafting a new site plan for the final sections of the sprawling housing complex. Professionals from Kaplan Cos. discussed their new concept plan at the Jan. 16 Planning Board meeting, having changed the layout of LaMer's final phases, known as sections five and six. The board approved an original version of those sections several years ago, but the decline of the housing market prompted Michael Kaplan to seek approval for revised plans. The former president of Kaplan Cos. said the modifications were made due to considerations of project costs and the state of the economy. The garden apartments that were originally proposed are more costly for the developer to build and for residents to maintain, according to Planning Board Engineer Jay Cornell, of CME Associates. The more conventional townhouse type of construction that is now being proposed is less costly, he added. Cornell said the latest proposal calls for a total of 481 units across the two sections. Section five, which already has a building constructed with 21 two-bedroom units, will have 48 one-bedroom units and 226 additional two-bedroom units, for a total of 295 units. In the sixth section, the developer plans to build 186 three-bedroom units. Section five is 48 acres in size, while section six is 31 acres. Kaplan's professionals unveiled the new layout of the sections and appealed to the board to approve the concept plan, which William T. Wentzien, engineer of the project, said is limited by the topography of the site. Cornell said at the meeting that the original plan for these sections was for the construction of garden apartments. Now that the plan calls for townhouses, the parking requirements for the project are different and will require modifications to the plan. He later told Greater Media Newspapers that the developer has agreed to meet the borough's minimum requirement for parking. While the majority of the townhouse units proposed will have alleyways and garages, there is surface parking proposed for some of the units. Wentzien described the housing in the new concept plan for sections five and six as a "mix of units." Details like variances and parking requirements will be worked out in the final engineering plans, he said. Jack F. McLaurin, an architect of the Vienna, Va.-based Lessard Group Inc., said part of the reason for the change in home designs from the previous plan is the current condition of the housing market. The change to a townhome-based plan will bring lower construction costs, more flexibility in building, and less disturbance of the ground through a smaller footprint, he added. "The topography is rather severe on this site," he said. McLaurin said the four-story buildings will appear to onlookers as if they are three stories due to the proposed use of the topography. The garages will be in the rear of the properties, he added. The architect said the detached singlefamily homes are designed to give an attractive streetscape that is not monotonous. He said an effort is being made to provide homes for people of different income levels. The properties closer to the Garden State Parkway will be completely blocked off with decorative walls, McLaurin said. Paul Phillips, planner of the project, said Kaplan Cos. is diversifying the remaining development in order to have the broadest market appeal possible. He added that while there are wetlands areas in section six, the dumbbell shape of section five also presents unique challenges to the developer. "Section five is irregularly shaped," Phillips said. "There is not a lot of depth." Stephen E. Barcan, attorney for Kaplan Cos., told the board that the variances the developer is seeking are similar to those approved in the past. The board unanimously approved the concept plan at the meeting. Although some members voiced reservations about the density of the project, they said they will honor a 1982 court order settlement. Planning Board Chairman Dr. John Misiewicz told GreaterMedia Newspapers that the concept plan did not include any surprises that would concern the board. "It's very in keeping with the whole development and the townhouses that are already there," Misiewicz said. "The façade differences, to make it interesting to look at … it's nice. I think they did a good job with this. The area is difficult, because it slopes so much down." Misiewicz said he does not envision the board having a problem with granting variances pertaining to the height of the buildings, due to the topography of the site. "The problem is due to the topography," Misiewicz said. "The height of the structure is measured on a couple of sides and is taken on an average. It goes down so much it exceeds the height restriction of the borough. It's because of topography, not because of building structure." Misiewicz said a formal technical review is anticipated to start in April, and Kaplan will then delve into the exact dimensions. "Now they have to go through the technical review [process]," Misiewicz said. "They have to get into the sewage, water, waste treatment and the roads, curbs and sidewalk grading."