Springfield Township Planning Board approves NRG family entertainment center with conditions

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Springfield Township Planning Board voted to approve a conditional site-plan resolution for NRG Springfield LLC, a proposed family entertainment center at the US‑22 shopping center, after the applicant agreed to address staff site‑plan concerns and the board added a public‑safety outreach condition.

Chairman Jeff Tiger opened discussion on the application, and planning staff told the board the proposed use is permitted but several site issues remained, including parking, landscaping and details about the proposed food service. Planning staff said a revised parking assessment submitted the afternoon before the meeting accounted for Macy’s warehouse space and showed no variance for parking was required.

An applicant representative described NRG as “a family entertainment center” combining “an arcade, trampoline park and soft play for toddlers” and said the venue will include a small cafe rather than a full restaurant. The representative said the cafe uses all‑electric appliances so “we don’t need any type of hood” and estimated the seating area at roughly “4 to 500 ft,” emphasizing parties and play as the primary draw.

Board members pressed staff and the applicant on security for a facility that serves children. The board added a condition requiring the applicant’s attorney to consult the Springfield Township chief of police or a designated police representative to coordinate security and emergency procedures before finalizing approvals.

On signage, the board and applicant agreed panels and materials will be revised to match the center’s existing storefront and Macy’s presence; staff marked exhibits A1/A2 into the record for the applicant’s illustrative materials. The board required the applicant to comply with all items in Mr. Disco’s review letters (parking calculations, landscaping plantings and sign revisions) as conditions of approval.

The board moved and the resolution passed by roll call with the members present voting in favor. The chair said he would sign the amended resolution later so the applicant could proceed with agreed changes.

What’s next: The applicant must submit final revisions addressing the review‑letter items, and the applicant’s attorney must confirm coordination with the township police as required by the board. The board recorded the approvals in its resolutions on the Google Drive.