Oxford Land Use Board approves amended plan for 145 townhomes at Pequest Road

The Oxford Township Land Use Board on Feb. 24, 2026 approved an amended preliminary and final site plan for SHRI Properties, LLC that will replace an earlier apartment/townhome mix with 145 three‑bedroom townhomes on a 23.56‑acre property along Pequest Road (Block 31, Lot 21.01), the board memorialized in Resolution 2026‑04.

Christopher Nusser, P.P., P.E., testifying for the applicant, said the amendment does not change the prior traffic analysis’ level of service and that engineering reports and plans show site modifications to improve separation from the adjoining Cambridge East development. William Rodriguez, Esq., represented the applicant at the hearing. Deanna Shipman, land development manager for NVR, described two product types (Juniper ~1,300 sq ft and Pine ~1,500 sq ft) and the one‑car garage dimensions (about 11.5 by 19 feet).

The board granted variance relief under N.J.S.A. 40:55D‑70(c) and design waivers under N.J.S.A. 40:55D‑51, including: permitting Road A to have a zero‑foot front yard setback where 50 feet is standard; allowing the development sign to be located 10 feet from the front property line (50 feet required); and permitting decks to have a 43.04‑foot front yard setback. Mr. Nusser told the board the sign variance was limited in scale and that "the benefits of the deviation substantially outweigh the detriment." The board also reaffirmed a one‑foot reduction in driveway width to 24 feet as a de minimis deviation and approved a minor lighting spillage (0.1 foot candle) onto an adjoining state‑owned lot.

Board members pressed the applicant on parking and garage functionality after the plan eliminated two‑car garages in favor of one‑car garages; the amended plan proposes 73 surface parking spaces, eight EV stalls and counts two parking spaces per unit under RSIS. Ms. Shipman said her experience led her to conclude there were "no identifiable issues" and that the garage "would be able to accommodate the vehicle and refuse and recycling containers." The board required the applicant to demonstrate RSIS compliance and provide garage floor plans or dimensional evidence confirming parking and storage functions.

The resolution lists numerous conditions that must be satisfied before issuance of construction permits, including final Township Engineer approval of stormwater design and additional soil testing, submission of a solid waste operations and staging plan, a swept‑path/maneuverability analysis, finished floor elevations and grading, full architectural elevations, a revised photometric plan, a strengthened landscaping buffer along Pequest Road, signage and utility construction details, draft HOA documents, and a detailed engineer’s cost estimate for performance guarantees.

The board moved to memorialize Resolution 2026‑04; the motion carried with a recorded vote of Ayes 5, Nays 0, Abstain 2, Absent 5. The minutes do not specify which members recorded the abstentions. No public comment was offered at the meeting. The board also approved the Jan. 27, 2026 re‑organization meeting minutes earlier in the session and authorized payment of vouchers before adjourning at 7:04 p.m.

Next steps identified in the resolution require the applicant to satisfy all outstanding items in the Township Engineer and Planner review reports and to obtain any necessary outside governmental approvals before construction permits will be issued.