Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Raritan, NJ for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Raritan, NJ can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Raritan, NJ, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
RARITAN, NJ - As redevelopment projects and apartment complexes continue to roll into Raritan Borough and along Route 206, residents said they fear traffic and flooding will worsen, and an influx of people will overburden their small town – and they feel like they can do little to stop it."In a period of time of like three years, it blew up," said borough resident Irma Mooney during a planning board meeting Jan. 25. "Realtors have told me they're going after the area, people are moving out of the city, and they're...
RARITAN, NJ - As redevelopment projects and apartment complexes continue to roll into Raritan Borough and along Route 206, residents said they fear traffic and flooding will worsen, and an influx of people will overburden their small town – and they feel like they can do little to stop it.
"In a period of time of like three years, it blew up," said borough resident Irma Mooney during a planning board meeting Jan. 25. "Realtors have told me they're going after the area, people are moving out of the city, and they're just throwing up these damn buildings. And they're putting them anywhere they can."
With numerous meetings, boards and little information on how the redevelopment process works, residents said they feel the borough can do better to keep them informed or involved in the redevelopment process. For example, meeting minutes have been backlogged for months, and residents say that when they go to a meeting to voice their concerns about a project, it’s already approved, and they have no idea when it was.
Sign Up for FREE Bridgewater/Raritan Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
However, the borough is trying to take small actionable steps to help better transparency. Mayor Zachary Bray said the council is finally catching up on their minutes, approving three sets on Feb. 7 that date as far back as November 2022, and as recent as Jan. 17.
While there was no point-person in town for a developer to contact if they were interested in redevelopment, council president Nicolas Carra said that anyone interested in any redevelopment project could contact the mayor, and, if not, whoever is contacted would refer them to borough engineer Stanley Schrek to see if they're eligible, have a good engineer, good financing and if it's a project that would suit the borough.
Carra also said it's crucial that the borough administrator, Eric Colvin, is notified.
"And he can make sure the full council's aware," Carra said. "That started the process, and then obviously continue with the process we've been doing with TRC [Technical Review Committee] meetings and public hearings."
Schrek and Colvin said they’re already in constant communication, so the process should work fine. And as usual, no redevelopment projects can occur unless an ordinance adopts a redevelopment plan.
“And every step in the process up to that point happens at a public meeting as well,” said Bray, and the public can make any comments during public meetings.
Public hearings are also held during public meetings, but relate to a specific resolution or ordinance.
Borough attorney Bill Robertson explained that the redevelopment process starts with the borough council in the form of a resolution authorizing the planning board to conduct a preliminary investigation to see if an area is in need of redevelopment. A resolution is an action taken by the council that is put into writing and can be adopted at the same time it's introduced.
The planning board then authorizes its professionals, such as Schrek or his office – Van Cleef Engineering Associates – to prepare a preliminary investigation report outlining whether the subject area meets some of the statutory criteria under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (LRHL. at N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-5) to be determined an area need of redevelopment or rehabilitation.
Once the board professionals complete their report, the planning board conducts a public hearing on the redevelopment area, where evidence from the preliminary investigation report is presented, as well as evidence from residents and other members of the public. All properties within 200 feet of the subject area are given public notice, but meeting agendas, posted on the borough website, will list these public hearings as well.
Based on the evidence presented in a public hearing, the planning board makes a recommendation to the council, in the form of a resolution, on whether the subject area meets the statutory criteria to be considered an area in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation.
The council can agree or disagree with the planning board's recommendation. If the council believes the subject area is in need, then a formal resolution designates it in need of redevelopment.
Once formally designated, the council charges the planning board or township professionals with creating a redevelopment plan.
Robertson said a redevelopment plan is basically a zoning overlay that permits special provisions in addition to the underlying base zone.
“It’s in order to encourage and promote the redevelopment of an underused, obsolete, dilapidated area,” he said.
After the redevelopment plan is created, it's referred to the council to be adopted by ordinance. However, ordinances are first listed on the council agenda for introduction, and if introduced on first reading, a public hearing on whether the council should adopt the redevelopment plan is scheduled, usually one or two meetings later.
After a public hearing, the council votes on the ordinance's adoption.
Redevelopment can only take place if the redevelopment plan is adopted by ordinance, allowing the new zoning use. Any interested redeveloper must appear before the planning board with a site plan that meets the bulk and use standards identified in the redevelopment plan. A public hearing on the site plan is held to assist in designing the project and ensuring it meets all standards and requirements.
"So even after all of that, there is a public hearing on the actual development," said Robertson. "Any developer would have to go back to a board, we'll review it, and again, work on the site plan and subdivision or something like that."
RARITAN, NJ - After seeking a road opening permit requesting a 20-foot-wide access way to his driveway on lot 19.02 – and after several Alpine Way residents voiced their concerns over the request in July 2022 – resident Sergio Seijas said his lawyer has sent hundreds of documents to the borough from maps to engineer reports supporting his right to an access way, but feels ignored in a swell of misinformation and miscommunication.“I’ve been cornered in many ways, ignored in many ways,” he said. “All ...
RARITAN, NJ - After seeking a road opening permit requesting a 20-foot-wide access way to his driveway on lot 19.02 – and after several Alpine Way residents voiced their concerns over the request in July 2022 – resident Sergio Seijas said his lawyer has sent hundreds of documents to the borough from maps to engineer reports supporting his right to an access way, but feels ignored in a swell of misinformation and miscommunication.
“I’ve been cornered in many ways, ignored in many ways,” he said. “All the things, papers I tried to submit, all the thousands of dollars that I spent unnecessarily being ignored. And I get to the point that I need an answer and the only word that comes to my mind is why, why I can't put an access driveway to your paper street on my property within the minimum code that’s 20 feet wide. Show me the resolution. Show me the book. Show me the arguments. Show me the violation.”
The access way would cross over a paper street or “right of way” that appears on the borough’s tax map, essentially creating a driveway from Alpine Way to lot 19.02. However, along with the size of the driveway and taxes, some residents have expressed concern about increased traffic on Alpine Way since lot 19.02 borders Route 202.
Sign Up for FREE Bridgewater/Raritan Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
In July 2022, borough attorney Bill Robinson said he wanted to continue the conversation to understand the request, how they could permit access over the paper street in compliance with the law and to review a range of historical documents.
On Jan. 17, borough resident Roger Copt, who inherited lot 19.02 from his father before Seijas and who is the owner of lot 19.01, said he has a letter granting his father and his successors the right to use the paper street or right of way for a private driveway from the borough engineer nearly 40 years ago when the subdivision was put in.
"I don't know what the big problem is," he said. "We made sure that we exercise our right to put in that driveway and close that driveway to the highway because I'm the guy that has to maintain it. I didn't know who was going to buy the house. So I didn't want to have a problem."
Copt said his father bought the property in 1940 and put a private driveway from Route 202 to the back of the property, which was the only way to access several properties at the time, so it's been a private driveway for nearly 82 years. He said when curbing was put in, everybody got a 20-foot cut for their house, including the paper way for his father's property.
"Why is one person being discriminated against and not allowed to have a 20-foot driveway?" he asked. "It isn't out of character with the neighborhood. Everybody has one. The cul-de-sac cut was put in when it was done. Obviously, that is the intention of it. So what I would ask you for is I would like a copy of that subdivision to see what information is in the subdivision. "
Copt said nobody's denying Seijas the use of it. The problem seems to be over how wide the driveway will be, but the minimum width for access under the state fire code is 20 feet.
Seijas said several of his neighbors have a 20-foot access drive to their properties on the same cul-de-sac, one measuring 20 feet, 1 inch. He said he doesn’t understand why he and his wife can’t have the same, and neither does Copt.
“I don't know what the big deal is,” Copt said. “I don't know why the neighbors are down here complaining. That subdivision was hassled out in the 80s. The time to talk about subdivision was when it was put in and not 42 years later.”
RARITAN, NJ - Pending a referendum vote on March 14, the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District (BRRSD) is looking to fund a district-wide facilities renovation program that will include infrastructure and classroom renovation projects and school additions."If you've been inside the buildings and walked around, I think it's hard to really debate the fact that they certainly need a little facelift," said superintendent Robert Beers in a presentation to the Raritan Borough Council Jan. 17. "They're well-maintained, ...
RARITAN, NJ - Pending a referendum vote on March 14, the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District (BRRSD) is looking to fund a district-wide facilities renovation program that will include infrastructure and classroom renovation projects and school additions.
"If you've been inside the buildings and walked around, I think it's hard to really debate the fact that they certainly need a little facelift," said superintendent Robert Beers in a presentation to the Raritan Borough Council Jan. 17. "They're well-maintained, but they need an update."
Some of the oldest sections date back to the 1960s.
Sign Up for FREE Bridgewater/Raritan Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
While public-school referendums in New Jersey are based on conceptual concepts – so districts don’t spend thousands in design fees if a referendum fails – the BRRSD referendum will total about $155.3 million. However, Frank Messineo, an architect with Solutions Architecture who helped audit BRRSD schools, said state aid is available and will cover $42.2 million, bringing the final referendum cost to about $113.1 million.
“One of the big pieces was that we needed to do this work and keep in mind the significant amount of debt rolling for the community so that we can produce a net neutral tax impact,” said Messineo. “The district was adamant, the board was adamant, that we needed to be net neutral when we're looking at these projects.”
The current debt service payment will end in 2023, helping offset the new debt under the March referendum, and the cost of referendum projects cannot exceed the amount approved by voters, but there are contingencies in place to address unforeseen conditions and construction issues.
Most of the referendum cost covers mechanical, pumping and air conditioning upgrades at $57.3 million, and the middle school addition and the building envelope – such as upgrading and renovating walls and windows – at $21.3 million each.
Renovations include capital, educational and facilities infrastructure projects with no tax impact.
Beers said surveys went out to the community, and a community committee was formed to help identify and prioritize school projects.
“The number one response, when we asked the community what do we want in this referendum, they wanted air-conditioned classrooms,” he said.
Climate-controlled classrooms and improved ventilation systems have become a priority since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the upgrades will occur across all buildings in the district.
Another significant project the community supported was security enhancements, such as the renovation of secure vestibules with transaction windows across all buildings, except the Wade Administration Building. Messineo said there is a vestibule at the high school in the 900 building, which the district intends to make larger and provide a transaction window so people can give their licenses to be vetted and approved before entering the building.
The third major request was for full-day kindergarten.
The district plans to add 12 new classrooms, three science labs, two sets of restrooms, one copy room, one office and two small group instruction spaces to create a traditional sixth, seventh and eighth grade middle school. This will free up space at the elementary schools so the district can implement a full-day kindergarten program.
“Thinking back to my time, I don't know how all three grade levels got 750 kids to fit in that building,” said Mayor Zachary Bray, who is also a teacher in the district. “And we're confident that that addition is going to be sufficient enough for those three grade levels.”
Between sixth, seventh and eighth grade, Beers said, the student population will decrease and fall to between 1,700 and 1,800.
Unlike renovations, additions will have tax impacts. For example, on the average assessed home of $488,933 in Bridgewater, there will be a $90 increase per year and a $66 increase for homes at $320,525 in Raritan – a one-time impact, one-time increase, said Messineo.
Although not every school will receive every upgrade or additions, Beers said the recommendations are based on existing conditions and need. For example, BRRSD is one of only 10 districts in the state that has a half-day kindergarten program.
"And that's a major equity issue for our kids," said Beers. "And we want to make sure that we offer the same opportunities as our neighboring schools and our peers."
Raritan Borough resident Colleen Kempe noted that the John F. Kennedy Primary School in Raritan doesn’t have a music or computer room, yet, that school is getting the second to the lowest amount of funds, at $6.4 million.
Beers explained that pushing a grade up to create room for full-day kindergarteners should also open a room or two for those spaces, and noted that although costs and projects differ between buildings, the district is renovating classroom spaces throughout the district so all students will benefit.
“Our entire student body, our entire student population, is going to benefit from these renovations,” he said, “whether you’re special ed or regular, because those rooms are going to be updated as well.”
While some projects could begin construction as early as summer – given the timing of a March referendum – projects that require more time to develop and design could start later in the summer or in the summers of 2024 thru 2028, which would allow the district to bid at better times in the year and in turn receive the best pricing for projects.
If the March referendum passes, the total cost to operate and staff additions and renovations will be voted on in November, and is estimated at $2.4 million.
Raritan Crossing experts testify about plans for a new apartment building on Route 206 at the Feb. 22 Raritan Planning Board meeting.Raritan Crossing experts testify about plans for a new apartment building on Route 206 at the Feb. 22 Raritan Planning Board meeting.Photo Credit: Andrea Crowley-Hughes/TAPintoPhoto Credit: Andrea Crowley-Hughes/TAPintoRaritan Crossing experts testify about plans for a new apartment building on Route 206 at the Feb. 22 Raritan Planning Board meeting...
Raritan Crossing experts testify about plans for a new apartment building on Route 206 at the Feb. 22 Raritan Planning Board meeting.
Raritan Crossing experts testify about plans for a new apartment building on Route 206 at the Feb. 22 Raritan Planning Board meeting.Photo Credit: Andrea Crowley-Hughes/TAPinto
Photo Credit: Andrea Crowley-Hughes/TAPinto
Raritan Crossing experts testify about plans for a new apartment building on Route 206 at the Feb. 22 Raritan Planning Board meeting.Photo Credit: Andrea Crowley-Hughes/TAPinto
Raritan Crossing experts testify about plans for a new apartment building on Route 206 at the Feb. 22 Raritan Planning Board meeting.Photo Credit: Andrea Crowley-Hughes/TAPinto
By Andrea Crowley-Hughes
PublishedMarch 7, 2023 at 9:00 AM
RARITAN, NJ - The planning board on Feb. 22 heard part of the application for a 60-foot apartment complex near the Raritan Mall on Route 206, as well as concerns from borough residents about flooding, noise, traffic and other issues that engaged various experts in questions during a hearing that stretched past 10 p.m.
Raritan Crossing is proposing to build a new apartment complex where a three-story retail building currently stands, north of the Raritan Mall. That building would be demolished, and the property redeveloped to accommodate a four-story, 75-unit residential building.
The planned complex will include 12 affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom units as required to fulfill the borough’s affordable housing obligation. Its other one- and two-bedroom units would be market rate, the developers said.
Sign Up for FREE Bridgewater/Raritan Newsletter
Get local news you can trust in your inbox.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Plans also include an underground parking lot with 85 parking spaces and 133 surface parking spaces, inclusive of a deck and a rooftop recreation area.
Raritan Crossing attorney Susan Rubright initially asked for “preliminary and final site plan approval” at the meeting. Board attorney Larry Cohen and borough engineer Stanley Schrek, however, said the board would only consider preliminary approval at this point as the developer awaits a flood plan level determination from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Flooding continued to be a topic of concern, as residents questioned plans for the evacuation of future residents of the complex and their cars.
Civil engineer Craig Stires said that the lower level of the property “allows for water during a flood event to come in.”
“The north side of the parking garage is at an elevation of 52 [feet], flood elevation as we've determined is around 51.6,” he said. “And then the lower portion on the south side of the parking garage is down at around 50.3. There's a potential based on that design for a flood of about 1.3 feet on the southern end of that parking deck.”
But residents asked how the people would evacuate the building.
“I'm questioning if people are in this building - forget about cars - how do people get in and out of the building if it floods?” Glaser Avenue resident Irma Mooney asked.
Stires said the main entrance to the apartment level is “significantly higher than the flood elevation.”
“The requirement from DEP is that you have an evacuation route that's above the flood elevation to get a DEP permit,” Stires said. “You can drive out to Somerset to the front parking.”
But residents said they doubted how the plan would work in extreme events, such as Hurricane Ida.
Comments such as, “When it floods, it’s bad” could be heard from the audience.
A Woodmere resident asked if the developer is increasing percolation, the movement of water into the soil to reduce stormwater runoff. She asked what the plans are for flood mitigation and increasing any sort of water retention and percolation on the property.
“We're increasing the impervious coverage, and we're required to go to DEP,” Stires said in answer to her question. “It's a major development, and they go through all the bells and whistles, and we will comply with the DEP criteria.”
Schrek acknowledged the resident’s point that the state DEP’s new inland flood protection rule is yet to take effect, saying this is why the board is now considering preliminary, not final, approval.
“We're holding at a preliminary because we still have to have discussions with the DEP,” Schrek said. “We're fully aware that new rules are being promulgated, actually supposed to be more rolled out in the first quarter of this year. That's what we have to understand. We have to make sure this fully comports with what those rules are going to be.”
Traffic engineer Jay Troutman said the plan is to relocate cars to Raritan Valley Professional Center on Route 28, located a four-minute drive away from the proposed apartments.
“The overall site has 287 parking spots on it, and what's currently being experienced at that site, even as the heaviest times of parking usage at that site, is that there's a large amount of unused parking,” Troutman said.
Robert Larsen, the architect and planner for the project, followed up on some concerns about the building being close to homes on the north and west sides.
“We have taken what is called a B1 unit, which faces west, which faces towards the backyard of that home, its terrace was closer, and we've flipped it so that its terrace is further from their backyard,” he said.
The change in positioning could “limit the number of people that would be possibly be looking that way, as the privacy concern was raised,” Larsen said.
He also explained a 6-foot solid masonry wall would be added to stop vehicles on the parking deck from shining lights toward a nearby home.
Addressing concerns with the rooftop recreation area, Larsen said landscaping and hard architectural elements would prevent anyone from standing within 10 feet of the roof’s edge, “so anyone on the roof, that maximum height of the building, is not going to be able to go to the edge and look down.”
“There was a concern about noise, and noise does travel when it’s at a higher level,” planning board chair Debra Thomas added.
Larsen said they usually think about noise because there's rooftop equipment, and everything is really loud, but HVAC from the proposed building would be limited to its own residents, since heating and cooling is inside the units.
Recreational noise from the rooftop gathering area would be governed by local rules, he said.
“Any clubhouse cannot have excessive noise, this would be like that,” he said. “Building management would close off these areas after hours.”
Troutman said there would be a decrease of 178 vehicle trips during the weekday afternoon peak hours, and a decrease of 200 trips on Saturdays due to the elimination of some retail uses.
Residents and board members spoke of current traffic congestion in the area, particularly around the bagel shop and Tae Kwon Do studio.
“The infrastructure is really not built for all this building, that's the elephant in the room today,” resident Chris Allen said. “You can say all you want about this, but it's congested.”
Mayor Zachary Bray said he was concerned about overflow parking from the residential lots into the retail areas.
“If the situation presents where they do have a second car, it’s going to be forced above, which then takes away from a potential retail parker especially if that person works from home,” Bray said.
“The typical parking demand of these types of units is one-and-a-half per unit, one of every two units would have a second car,” Troutman said. “That's typically what we're experiencing with this proximity to a train station.”
The board adjourned testimony due to time constraints, and the hearing will be continued at the next board meeting on March 22.
RARITAN, NJ — Business is definitely brewing for Bridgewater native Steven Chiocchi who just opened his second Ambee Coffee location.The new location at 101 Second Ave. in Raritan in the shopping center off Route 202 near the Somerville Circle serves as an easy grab-and-go for commuters.His first location in Somerville only offered coffee and pastries but with the demand for more food options. With his Raritan launch, Chiocchi decided to add on a vegan- and gluten-free bakery and a kitchen and a chef to offer farm-to-tabl...
RARITAN, NJ — Business is definitely brewing for Bridgewater native Steven Chiocchi who just opened his second Ambee Coffee location.
The new location at 101 Second Ave. in Raritan in the shopping center off Route 202 near the Somerville Circle serves as an easy grab-and-go for commuters.
His first location in Somerville only offered coffee and pastries but with the demand for more food options. With his Raritan launch, Chiocchi decided to add on a vegan- and gluten-free bakery and a kitchen and a chef to offer farm-to-table breakfast and lunch items such as avocado toast, french toast, and egg sandwiches.
"Everything we offer in Somerville we offer here but more," said Chiocchi on Monday.
The soft opening kicked off Monday and a grand opening with a ribbon cutting is being planned for December.
The opening is a collaboration with the owner of Epic Cookies and 22 West Tap & Grill Kevin Trimarchi to be able to offer more of a food element.
Chiocchi noted that the menu is still developing and "we will be relying heavily on customer feedback."
One item only available at the Raritan location is the Churro Doughnut, which is made from chickpea flour and is vegan-and gluten-free.
Additionally, Ambee is also the first in New Jersey to carry Nu Milk - a plant-based milk maker that was featured on Shark Tank.
Customers can also order ahead online at ambee.coffee to pick up and go.
The name of the cold brew shop, Ambee is definitely unique. The name Ambee is a word Chiocchi, a Bridgewater-Raritan High School graduate, made up and is a play on the word ambient. He launched Ambee on Amazon and online before opening his coffee shop in 2018 for his coffee product line. Read More: Somerville Coffee Shop Rebrands Itself Again, This Time For Good
The name also aligns with his organic coffee line that is light- or ambient-themed. The coffee product names include Aurora, Orion, Eclipse, and more.
For more information visit ambee.coffee or facebook.com/ambeecoffee or instagram.com/ambee_coffee.