The University Medical Center at Princeton has sent the concept plans for its proposed Plainsboro facility to the township. The first public presentation will be given by the UMC to the Planning board on Monday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m.
The facility, if built as proposed, will be 2.3 million square feet. It is intended for the 158.1 acre FMC site on both sides of Plainsboro Road east of Route 1, includes areas for a 25-acre park and for senior citizen affordable housing south of Plainsboro Road. The construction of the hospital, proposed for north of Plainsboro Road, would create a legal requirement for Plainsboro to make affordable housing available, though it is not required by law that the housing be constructed on site.
The proposal includes entrances to the hospital from Plainsboro Road and from Route 1. An exit off Route 1 will lead directly to the planned Emergency room.
The plan includes a continuing care retirement center. The proposed center, if approved, would be developed in two phases. In all, the plan provides for 3,”829 parking spaces. The location of parking is not immediately apparent from the renderings that accompanied the application, but at least 2,”200 spaces are intended to be in parking structures.
The plan calls for several of the existing FMC buildings, including the main structure, to be demolished to make way for new structures. Three current FMC buildings will remain and be incorporated into the medical center. The main hospital building, designed by Hillier Architecture, is proposed to be glass and brick, a theme also seen in the proposed Plainsboro Library, which was designed by BKSK Architects.
While the hospital would not pay taxes to the township, the proposal includes several medical office buildings and research sites which would provide tax income for Plainsboro.
In accordance with current zoning, no building will be higher than 175 feet, or nine stories plus penthouse.
