U.F. mulls over a life aquatic for Cox's Corner BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer UPPER FREEHOLD - A couple has proposed putting a year-round aquatic facility at Cox's Corner. The township's Economic Development Committee (EDC) heard the proposal for the indoor pool at the Route 524 commercial center at its April 4 meeting. Because such a land use is not listed as a permitted use in the township's community commercial zone, the project would require variances. Julie Meirs, who grew up in the township and has a bachelor's degree in business management and a master's degree in sports/athletic administration, owns a Princeton-based swim team. "I always wanted a team in this area," she said. She and her partner, Kip Hein, want to build the year-round aquatic facility at Cox's Corner. Their current team swims in the pool at the John Witherspoon Middle School in Princeton, where they have a maximum capacity of kids, according to Meirs. Meirs said her proposed facility could save the township the liability and responsibility of building a municipal pool. Hein told the EDC that he has been involved in aquatics for more than 12 years, and formerly managed a private swim facility in Allentown, Pa., called the Aquatic Club. He said the club has competitive teams but also allows people from the community to use the pool during the day. Lehigh Valley Hospital uses the facility as well for patient therapy, he said. The Aquatic Club also offers certified lifeguard and Red Cross training, and gives swimming lessons to people ranging from infants to adults, according to Hein. The proposed facility at Cox's Corner would offer many of the same options to the local community, Hein said. Meirs said the business would also create jobs, including instructors, lifeguards and front-desk personnel. She said they would likely hire a large number of teenagers and young adults. Hein said his former facility employed 50 people, the majority of whom worked part time. Meirs said she has contacted Doug Walsh, the developer of the 11-lot Cox's Corner site. According to Meirs, Walsh told her the site has a 6-acre lot available, of which only 3.2 acres is usable. She said they would need 3 acres for a 25-yard pool. Hein said the site plan Walsh showed them is sufficient for the proposed facility with ample parking. Hein said they plan to construct one building with two pools. There would be an eight-lane pool, as well as a smaller pool for lessons. The pools would need to be backwashed once a week, according to Hein. Finding a commercial property for a swimming pool has been difficult, Meirs said. With regard to the Cox's Corner lot, Meirs said they could not deal with land use issues until they put in an offer for the site. They could then apply for variances from the township. "There are so many things we can't control with community commercial and the builder," she said. Township Committeeman Stephen Alexander had met with Meirs and Hein. He said the municipal ordinance defining community commercial uses does not include indoor pools specifically as a permitted use. Board member Thomas Frascella said he spoke to the Planning Board, which asked the EDC to relate to it business uses that would be positive for the community but are not currently listed in the township's master plan zoning designation. He said several people have approached the EDC over the years regarding recreational facilities, but that when the township previously revised its master plan those sorts of uses had not yet been coming in to the area. The Planning Board is now in its third year of discussing revisions the master plan. Frascella said the EDC could propose a resolution to the Zoning Board, recommending a use variance for the project. Meirs said she would be interested in starting a swim team at Allentown High School, which she would have come to her facility for practices and meets. She said they would like to get their project started as soon as possible and added that next week, she and Hein would attend a conference on pool construction held by USA Swimming.