Garden State Hi-Tech Park wins needed municipal approval

Real Estate Weekly, Jan 10, 2001

Garden State Hi-Tech Park, LLC, a local investment group based in Neptune township, N.J., received unanimous approval this December for preliminary site plans from the township planning board for phases I and II of a proposed 4 million SF corporate and technology center, announced

Ken Himsel, director of development. Located within minutes of Garden State Parkway Exits 100 and 102 and Interstate 195, the property includes 172 vacant acres in a non-residential area of Neptune, strategically situated between State Highways 18 and 66, Neptune Boulevard, and Wayside Road.

The Neptune township planning board unanimously approved the general development plan for the project on August 16. Since then, the developer has conducted extensive engineering studies in connection with the first two phases, which will include four buildings ranging from 200,000 to 217,300 SF. Two of the buildings will incorporate four levels of underground parking and two will offer single-level underground parking structures.

"All the buildings are proposed for four stories, and the parking structures will be built underground, taking advantage of the natural slopes and topography of this parcel," Himsel explained. "This will allow us to provide ample protected parking areas while we leave large open spaces of green acres within the campus, in agreement with our original proposal." The parking facilities will accommodate three cars per 1,000 SF, in accordance with the Neptune township existing requirements.

The proposed phases sit on the east parcel of the site, with planned egress and ingress from Neptune Boulevard near Route 66. In addition, the site plan includes a helistop located adjacent to storm water management pond, which from the park. "The helistop has been designed as a positive aesthetic feature of the park, planned exclusively to service the property. Our goal has been to minimize any impact in the immediate neighborhood while we provide a tremendous corporate amenity," said Raymond A. Syms, an aeronautical consultant who was retained by Garden State Hi-Tech Park in connection with the helistop design and planning.

Since the approval of the general development plan this summer, developers of The Garden State Hi-Tech Park have had tremendous tenant interest in the property, according to Himsel. "We have conducted extensive engineering studies and are proposing the first two phases of the four buildings to provide flexibility based on tenant requirements. In addition, the two phases are linked, and the integrated development of all the infrastructures, roadways, storm water management, and parking areas are an integral component of themaster-planning that has gone into the design of this campus."

The proposed schedule for construction calls for final site plans to be submitted in January and February. "If all approvals are received, we will begin site work and break ground in early spring," he added.

The company also has been working on a 2,500 SF marketing and leasing center for the park, which is expected to open in early February. The center will feature displays of the proposed development with floor plans, elevations, and renderings.

Development of the park has been cited by township officials for its potential to bring the existing vacant land to productive use and to support the local economy by establishing tax ratables.

Mayor Kevin B. McMillan noted: "We welcome the project and look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with Garden, State Hi-Tech Park."