Among those who are against the addition of so much new housing is Farrell Delman, a 20-year resident of West Windsor. He says the residents of West Windsor have the power to stop development on the scale shown in the plans if they choose.##M:[more]##
Delman, who lives on Bear Brook Road, is a member of the Princeton Junction Neighborhood Coalition. He says the organization is not against the redevelopment, rather it strongly supports a modified version of “The Big Move.”
Delman is not alone in his thinking that 1,”000 residential units are unnecessary. “You take the piazza from concept A, and put it on the east side of the tracks. You’ve got buildings on Route 571 with retail on the first floor and apartments on the second floor. By bringing the town center to the current residents, the need for a lot of residential units disappears,” said Delman, who is president of the Tobacco Merchants Association, based at 231 Clarksville Road in West Windsor.
Continues Delman: “[The PJNC is] in favor of a redevelopment in which size, style, and tax and traffic implications work for the town. Excessively large redevelopment that appears to be on a fast track will be opposed.”
The window for residents to oppose the redevelopment may have passed. According to Township attorney Michael J. Herbert, once the 350-acre area around the train station became officially designated an area in need of redevelopment, the residents’ normal right to call a referendum was, in effect, revoked. “Once it became a redevelopment area, all of the actions taken pursuant to that in the area cannot be subject to referendum.”
Hsueh also says the time for a referendum has passed. “The process started three years ago” says the mayor. “According to the township attorney’s legal interpretations, the referendums legally cannot hold. There were different periods for people to react. It’s been going forward slowly, methodically. We have been open about every step to the public.”
Residents can, however, call a referendum on any bonding for funding specific aspects of the redevelopment. “If the taxpayers of are faced with having to pay for this, we can call a referendum to stop it.” says Delman.
Among the aspects of the redevelopment that could be funded by municipal tax dollars are critical elements such as the new road configuration, parking structures, and any piazza or village green made to be a town center.
Delman is calling for outside experts to be brought in to examine the costs and effects of the plan. “We have a right to ask for an independent analysis to ensure that the development is tax-positive and car-positive,” says Delman. “Right now the only experts whose analyses are being considered have been hired by the planner.”
Residents may in fact have a referendum of sorts on the redevelopment before the plans are completed. The upcoming municipal elections pits two slates. Franc Gambatese, Chuck Chang, and Diane Ciccone are cautiously optimistic about the redevelopment. Charles Morgan, Will Anklowitz, and George Borek are just cautious.
The six candidates are vying for three seats on the five-member council. If a majority of council votes are cast against progress on the redevelopment, the process could be slowed. The planning board will be the primary entity involved in the approval of the plans pursuant to the June 4 presentation. The final plan is subject to a council vote before any development begins.
