Activity Report
March and April 2005

• LAWRENCE:
  • Wal-Mart:
    The sighting committee met to do a preliminary review of the plans. Lawrence Township's Council foresees a long process because of opposition by the LETs Stop Wal-Mart coalition. The coalition planned to attend a Council meeting to find out where the Council stands, but the meeting was cancelled at the last minute. The Coalition presented its case to the Mercer County Freeholders, who were not permitted to ask questions or comment because the plans will come before them for a vote later. The coalition is working on a living wage ordinance similar to the one passed recently in Chicago. The group also mailed every Lawrence resident to alert them about the Wal-Mart plans.

• HAMILTON:
  • Super Wawa:
    The Zoning Board denied Wawa's variance application. This is the first substantive variance denial by the Zoning Board in four years.

  • Cypress Gardens:
    The site is on 15 acres with wetlands next to the Senior Center on Cypress Lane. It is zoned REO5, which is for research and offices. The site contains a spring-fed pond and backs up to Pond Run. The site is on Hamilton's open space and recreation plan, but the owner wants condos instead. The wetlands delineation was done by pro-development consultants. The owner is attempting a zoning variance and the neighboring residents are up in arms. The leader of the opposition is an ex-developer; the group hired planner Dennis Hudasko to review the plans.
    The developer's son is a Planning Board alternate who is lobbying the Planning Board. The developer is Bud Nami.
    The residents are working towards an appeal. Save Hamilton Open Space has hired planner Andy Strauss to testify on environmental issues.
    SHOS has the chance to turn three board members around (that's all that's needed) on flooding issues.
    Rocky wrote a letter to the Planning Board in his name and will send a copy to Laura for her to send in the Central Jersey Group's name. Laura faxed the letter in time for it to arrive before the meeting.
    The site is on NJ's Landscape Project's list as habitat for endangered species. SHOS is considering hiring a biologist to look for endangered and threatened species because if any are found on adjacent properties included in the Landscape Project's list, all sites must be preserved.
    In Hamilton, 35% of the land on the open space plan has been lost to development, while only 13% has been preserved.

  • Other Issues in Hamilton:
    Hamilton Township passed a stormwater ordinance. The Township closed on the Braghelli Tract but is widening the road next to it, taking out trees. Hamilton is about to reach a deal on the Klockner Road Woods, even though the case is still in court. The Township is asking the state for $300,000 to help buy the land.

• EWING:
  • State Land Sale:
    The Jones and Knight Farms, next to the Trenton-Mercer Airport, are owned by the state and are for sale to help balance the budget, despite the fact that there was an executive order to preserve one of the farms. Ewing wants to change the zoning to conservation zoning. Harold will get more details and we will write in support of preservation once we have more details.
    The General Motors property will be used for a transit village, next to the West Trenton SEPTA train station, at the intersection of Parkway and Lower Ferry Roads.