West Windsor council has rejected the Howard Hughes Corporation’s request to initiate redevelopment designation for the company’s 658-acre property off Quakerbridge Road.
“At this time we will not entertain the idea of designating the area in need of redevelopment. Simply put they did not give us enough information,” said council president Bryan Maher at the November 10 council meeting. “We welcome them to go to the Planning Board to give a conceptual plan.”
Maher added that he could not recall a single person expressing support for the idea.
Council member George Borek also noted his impression that Howard Hughes has had more conversation with the School Board than with council, referencing the WW-P School Board Candidates Forum in the News (October 24), in which candidates were asked how the board would anticipate development of the property.
Called for comment after the meeting, Borek said: “I tend to believe the School Board knows a lot more, or has talked a lot more with the Howard Hughes people. Based on their responses to some of the questions, the Board thinks they can address growth or needs. My interpretation is they’ve had a lot more conversation with the Howard Hughes people than we as a governing body have had.” See separate story, page 12, for the legal sparring that has begun between the township and Howard Hughes attorneys.
Ellsworth Center update. Council did approve a resolution to explore redevelopment designation for two residential lots adjacent to the Ellsworth center. The center is part of the redevelopment zone and has been approved for mixed-use redevelopment. Both properties are owned by Shawn Ellsworth. The resolution authorizes the Planning Board to evaluate whether the two lots are in need of redevelopment, and any recommendation would then need approval from council.
Pedestrian safety. After two West Windsor residents, Richard Regan and his son Richard Regan, Jr., were struck by a car crossing the D&R Canal towpath at Washington Road (Route 571) in Princeton last month, Council approved a resolution urging Mercer County to install safety improvements such as warning lights and signs at the location. Princeton’s town council approved a similar resolution in late October.
In addition, council member Linda Geevers noted a November 7 letter to the editor in the Trenton Times written by West Windsor residents Roger and Marcia Alig. The Aligs point out that while towpath crossings at Harrison Street and Alexander Road have warning lights, crosswalk, and signs, the crosswalk lights on Harrison and Alexander have not been functioning in past years.
Borek also addressed the crossing at Hawk Drive and Clarksville Road, where West Windsor resident Xuande Guo was struck and killed by a car last month (see letter to the editor, page 2). According to Borek, traffic engineers have previously looked at the crossing and concluded a crosswalk was unfeasible given the configuration of the exit and entrance of the Maurice Hawk parking lot.
Said Borek after the meeting: “What made it difficult to put a crosswalk there is the entrance and exit from Maurice Hawk Elementary School. Cars would come out and not necessarily see someone is at the crosswalk. So from an engineering standpoint, it is difficult to put in.”
Borek added the council is considering a resolution to ask Mercer County to assess the crossing. “We want to get the school, county and ask how do you make this a safer crossing not only for residents but for the schools?” Borek says.
Township bonds. Following the recommendation of bond counsel Ed McManimon, council passed a resolution to participate in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Initiative. McManimon explained to Council that the SEC initiative allows bond issuers, in this case the township, to self report documentation and that participation in the initiative would be “arguably an amnesty” on any material misstatements made in past disclosures. The township will complete a disclosure audit in consultation with Phoenix Advisors.
Three ordinances were also introduced, with public hearings to be held at the Monday, November 24, Council meeting: an amendment to the “peddling and soliciting” ordinance; a sidewalk easement at 861 Alexander Road from GHO Ventures; and a lease between the Historical Society of West Windsor and the township.
The Historical Society’s lease of the Schenck Farmstead on Southfield Road was contested with respect to the organization’s non-profit documentation. Said Maher: “It’s a tight ordinance, it gives us control. I don’t want the property to go unused. If the documentation is not there, I will block it.” (See letter to the editor, page 5.)
Other news: Business administrator Marlena Schmid said there are continuing difficulties with yard waste as residents have disposed of debris after their pick up date, which is scheduled by zone. Township Public Works will issue notices to those defying the yard waste ordinance.
Public Works also successfully cleaned up West Windsor’s 9/11 memorial, which was vandalized over the weekend of November 1 and 2. The police department is pursuing leads and seeking any information the community may have. Borek thanked residents for contributions that have increased the reward to $1,800.
Borek also mentioned the recent pattern of tractor trailers taking New Village Road to and from Trenton in lieu of Old Trenton Road, saying the shortcut route being taken has “tremendous impact on residents.”
Council member Peter Mendonez called the town’s 33 percent voter turnout on November 4 “very poor,” encouraging younger residents to go to the polls.
Council also approved the submission of a grant application to the state Department of Transportation regarding the relocation of the Vaughn Drive bus station at the train station; a contract with Van Cleef Engineering Associates for engineering consultation involving the 2-14 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Program for $28,450; and a contract with T&M Associates regarding the Duck Pond Run Sewer Interceptor Phase II for $65,500.
