Shiseido Additions Approved by East Windsor Township Council

Thanks to a resolution passed during last week’s East Windsor Township Council meeting, a local facility that manufactures skin treatments, cosmetics, and fragrances for an international cosmetics company may expand its facility by more than 72,000 square feet.

East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov and the Township Council approved a developer’s agreement between the Township and

According to the company’s June 8 press release announcing plans to strengthen its U.S. corporate, manufacturing, and distribution operations, the company wishes to establish a smaller distribution center at the existing manufacturing facility in East Windsor. The center would handle export of U.S-manufactured Shiseido brand products to Europe and Asia.

According to the document, as of April 30, 2012, the existing, 3,850,000-square-foot facility established in 1998 houses 292 employees and produces 26 million pieces per year.

“They’ve really been one of our preeminent companies…” said East Windsor Township Mayor Janice Mironov during last week’s Spotlight East Windsor broadcast. “We’re of course thrilled. It’s great news for them that this is necessary and great news for the town.”

The project would include a 54,580 square foot warehouse addition onto the site’s existing warehouse and storage building, with additional parking and other improvements.

The Township of East Windsor Planning Board heard testimony and comments in August and September from Shiseido representatives, witnesses, and consultants.

According to the planning board’s Resolution of Amended Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval, Shiseido’s attorney Gary Forshner, of Stark & Stark, said Shiseido intents to construct in two phases.

The first phase would include a 54,580-square-foot, “L” shaped addition to the existing warehouse and storage building. The addition would be 34 feet high, with approximately one-half of the addition being used for warehousing and staging, and the remaining portion being used as an area for future assembly.

In addition, construction would also include 28 additional parking spaces to the small parking lot in the front of the building, 27 additional spaces to the large parking lot in the rear of the building, a small storm water management basin at the rear of the building, a 12-foot widening along 80 feet of driveway to Millstone Road, the relocation of an existing pathway, expansion of the side loading area, and modification to the rear building entrance.

Phase two would consist of a new storm water management basin to the north of the large parking lot and a one-story building addition, which would include office area, an expanded lunch room and cafeteria, locker areas, and a patio and gazebo area outside the lunch room. This addition would be 18,408 square feet.

Vice President of Operations for Shiseido America, Inc. Ed Houlihan told the planning board the facility receives materials and processes them to create cosmetics sold in stores. He said the expanded warehouse would handle a gradual shift of production from its facility in Oakland, NJ to the East Windsor facility.

Houlihan is additionally testified the facility manufactures products for the “Bare Essentials” brand. The expansion is therefore intended to aid distribution and provide space for an anticipated additional 10 employees, he said.

According to the resolution passed last week, Shiseido must make certain improvements to the property, as well as provide a contribution for off-tract improvements, for which the Shiseido has agreed to pay and construct.

The Township and Mercer County reportedly commissioned a comprehensive study to analyze and demonstrate the interdependence between the proposed development and roadway improvements necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare.

According to the resolution, Shiseido will contribute a little more than $85,144 for off-tract improvement of streets and roadways within East Windsor, half of which will be paid prior to the issuance of construction permits, and the other half will be paid in no later than two years.

The terms of the agreement indicate that Shiseido also has up to 15 days prior to the issuance of a construction permit to post a performance guarantee in the amount of $353,298, or 120 percent of the total value of required improvements.

The required improvements must be completely constructed within two years, unless extended by formal action of the Township.

Shiseido has also agreed to make a gift of $35,000 to East Windsor to be used by the township at its discretion for the acquisition of open space or for recreation improvements in East Windsor.