Activity Report
February 2005

• ROUTE 92:
  Laura spoke with Martin Robins of the Voorhees Transportation Policy Institute at Rutgers University about conflict mediation and the state of Route 92. Mr. Robins stated that the NJ Turnpike Authority is going ahead with its EA for Turnpike widening and that there will be no action on the Route 92 EIS any time soon, if at all. Laura spoke with Jeff Tittel, who concurred with Mr. Robins' opinion. The core anti-Route 92 activists would like to see Route 92 officially declared dead; dormancy isn't good enough.

• SHOP-RITE:
  The Hamilton Township Planning Board voted to appeal Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg's reversal of the Planning Board's rejection of Levin's application. SHOS will join the appeal. A neighborhood meeting was held to discuss strategies. Hal English from the Administration, Council President Wayne DeAngelo and Councilwoman Eileen Thornton attended and voiced support. A couple of other legal maneuvers are being considered including a motion for reconsideration which would allow additional evidence to be presented, and an appeal based on lack of a sufficient buffer.

• SUPER WAWA:
  The proposed store would violate zoning (too near another gas station and a church, near wetlands). Wawa asked for a variance and threatened to sue the zoning board over illegal variance requirements. The Township is against the project. Councilwoman Eileen Thornton is working with residents. Variances could be overturned because of the way they are written (not reciprocal). SHOS hired Dennis Hudasko, who suggests rezoning to increase required buffer. SHOH introduced ordinance to place the buffer at 500 feet. The Planning Board approved the ordinance, so now it goes back to the Council for a second reading. The ordinance can be passed before the zoning board meeting, buit it is not likely to be in time to stop the Wawa. Like Wal-Mart, Wawa buys gasoline on the open market, undercutting competitors.

• SKEBA FARM:
  The site was approved for a housing development, but Mercer County is meeting with the developer to offer once again to buy all or part of the property. Because the land is on the bank of the Crosswicks Creek, the County has an interest in preserving it.

• LAURA AVENUE:
  This farm was also lost. The site was added to the Planning Board agenda at the last minute, but the Planning Board didn't have to act until June 13. The site borders on the Assunpink; that section is on the C1 petition list. Jeff Tittel says that there has been, and won't be, any movement on any of the requested designations. Bonnie suggested that Rocky bringing it up in public at the Land Trust rally on 12 March.
• HAMILTON TOWNSHIP DOWNZONING:
  Really "resource management" according to Hamilton Township's Frank Banish, who has prepared the report, this is a strategy to protect farms from development. Council said that it was their top priority, but the mayor apparently is sitting on the report. Meanwhile 500 acres of farms have been approved for development since the report was commissioned.

• HAMILTON STREAM BUFFER AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ORDINANCES:
  The Hamilton Township Council presented a new ordinance for stream protection but is dragging its feet on the stormwater management ordinance. They hired Schor DePalma to write new rules, but don't plan any public hearings except as part of the ordinance process. They have a record of approving noncompliant plans and making compliance with new regulations a condition of approval.

• KLOCKNER ROAD WOODS AND THE BRAGHELLI TRACT:
  In the condemnation proceedings, the judge has asked for discovery, meaning she wants Hamilton to answer questions and isn't ready to make a decision yet. At issue is whether emiment domain is justified to turn 50 acres of woods into a passive recreation park.

  Meanwhile, Hamilton will close on the 84 acre Braghelli Tract soon and add it to Veterans Park.

• HAMILTON TRANSIT VILLAGE:
  The transit village concept has been very poorly implemented and now has a bad name in Hamilton. Two adjacent devlopments that are not part of the true TV, but are being lumped in with it, have drawn strong opposition. The true TV will be built by NJT, and has not been started yet.