By: Frank C. D’Amico
MILLSTONE – The township’s search for more taxable business property is a perennial topic of discussion among local politicians and planners.
This year, the four candidates for the two open Township Committee seats have weighed in with their opinions on the subject.
Theories vary somewhat among candidates Cory Wingerter, Charles Abate, Franklyn Rother and Carol A. Nelson, but one theme is constant. Any commercial ratable brought into to Millstone should be "clean."
Mr. Rother and Mr. Abate, an incumbent who is seeking a 10th term on the committee, are Democrats. Mr. Wingerter, an incumbent serving as mayor this year, and Ms. Nelson are Republicans. Each open seat has a three-year term.
Mr. Abate said a clean ratable would be any type which doesn’t generate a lot of traffic, noise and pollution.
"We need to bring in more clean ratables to stabilize our tax rate," he said.
Mr. Abate and Mr. Wingerter said the township does get building proposals from businesses, and the township has to review them carefully before even proceeding to the Planning Board.
Mr. Wingerter said office buildings would be a more acceptable to Millstone as opposed to strip malls and fast food restaurants.
"There’s no truck deliveries, less lighting and not a lot of litter in the parking lot," Mr. Wingerter said.
Mr. Wingerter also said septic systems for office buildings wouldn’t be as "intensive" as a shopping center or restaurant. Millstone has no public water or sewer service.
"Office buildings don’t have dishwashers and don’t generate grease," Mr. Wingerter.
An office building recently was approved by the township for construction at Showplace Farms on Route 33.
Mr. Rother said Route 33, which along with Route 537 are the main commercial routes in the township, would be well suited for financial service businesses.
"A company such as a brokerage firm could set up satellite offices here and people can go to work there instead of New York," he said.
Mr. Rother said Millstone’s location in central New Jersey, between Philadelphia and New York City, should make it attractive to businesses.
He and Mr. Wingerter also said these businesses are better suited for the township because the employees "come in at 9 and leave at 5."
Ms. Nelson suggested the township re-start an Economic Development Council to look into the ratable situation.
"We shouldn’t have just developers and engineers reviewing plans, but have advisory boards with members who live in town looking at it," she said. "We should utilize their wisdom and direction."
Ms. Nelson said the township should examine the financial benefits of having fast-food franchises against the negatives associated with them, such as traffic, litter and noise. She said those factors don’t belong in the rural atmosphere of Millstone.
"People that move into Millstone to have a rural environment will have to go out of their way for conveniences," she said.
The township should also use its geographic information system data to "view the quality of land and see it’s viable."
Ms. Nelson said the township should take this seriously because much of the area, around Route 33 in particular, is wetlands.
Along Route 537 in Millstone, which is near Great Adventure, fast food franchises dot the landscape.
Mr. Rother said "there is nothing worse than a Burger King or McDonald’s."
He said he would prefer to see a Peddler’s Village-style commercial development on Route 537 instead of fast food restaurants, because it would have a "lower impact" in terms of traffic and litter. Peddler’s Village is a business complex with specialty shops and restaurants in Lahaska, Pa., near New Hope.
Ms. Nelson also said she would prefer this type of business, "small specialty shops and quaint architecture."
Mr. Rother said the township has done some good things in terms of commercial development, such as eliminating the commercial industrial zone.
"The township has moved in the right direction," he said. "We just need to keep moving in that direction."
