Princeton Borough and Township officials agreed Monday to form a committee to examine the developmental possibilities of a 171-acre Borough-owned expanse off River Road in Princeton Township. On the Borough side, however, there was some hesitation about realigning the land deed to sponsor full joint-municipal ownership.
The Princeton Sewer Operating Committee, a joint municipal agency, currently manages the area, using a portion of the land for a field office, as well as storage space. There is also a large bulk waste drop-off station onsite.
The site, which contains wetlands as well as a closed landfill, has for years been subject to speculation as far as use. It is a perennial topic of conversation as the Princeton Recreation Department seeks additional playing fields, and as both the Borough and Township departments of Public Works seek to upgrade their current facilities.
But the potential of the use of the land is unproven, according to Planning Director Lee Solow, and the task of a PSOC land committee, which could include the Borough and Township engineers, the PSOC manager, the Recreation Department director, a Princeton Regional Schools representative, as well as Mr. Solow himself, would be to identify future uses, site constraints, as well as site suitability.
The end result, Mr. Solow said, would be a report delivered to both governing bodies, with a second joint-municipal meeting to address that report's findings. "This is just the beginning of a process," Mr. Solow said Monday. "We need to make sure that the needs and concerns of both towns are addressed."
The Planning Department will likely serve as the lead agency in compiling the report, which could take up to six weeks. Both Borough Council and Township Committee requested that the report be available for review at least three weeks prior to a second public meeting.
But Borough Councilman Roger Martindell, worrying that the Borough would hastily forfeit ownership of the land, said that the Borough should first review the committee's report, and then vote on a new deed of joint municipal ownership, with the understanding that the committee's findings effectively address issues related to consolidated services, and that Borough Hall should first sign off on the validity of the report.
"This is the time to forge a commitment — not with airy promises, but with concrete recommendations about consolidation of services at the SOC lands based on hard study by [Mr. Solow's] committee," said Mr. Martindell.
Mr. Martindell went on to point out that coordination and consolidation are policy decisions that should be brokered by the governing bodies rather than municipal staff. "If we proceed in this vague, more undefined way, we'll miss an important opportunity, and we'll delay development of that property," he said.
Councilman Andrew Koontz disagreed, urging the two municipalities to work in tandem through the entire analysis: "The task here is very specific, and so far, so good, in my view.
"I don't find it vague, nor do I see that it sows the seeds of confusion. It's a worthy goal."
Council President Peggy Karcher took a somewhat more fundamental approach, saying that she was encouraged simply by the discussion of forming a committee. "To me, the important thing is the fact that the committee is operational and functioning — not what they report to us.
"Through this committee, we'll be able to work together for the common good of both municipalities."
Mr. Martindell's amendment proposal that the Borough receive the contents of the report and then have Council vote up or down on that analysis failed to be seconded by other members of Council, and both Township Committee and Borough Council voted in favor of forming the committee per Mr. Solow's proposal. Mr. Martindell voted against, with Councilwoman Wendy Benchley and Township Deputy Mayor Bernie Miller absent.