On Nov. 6, four candidates will compete for two three-year seats on the Township Committee.
The slate includes Republicans Susan Hagerty and Michael Mayes, and Democrats Mary Ellen Larson and Richard Stannard.
Each candidate met with The Cranbury Press to discuss four issues facing local voters: the budget, open space and farmland preservation, development along Route 130 and downtown development.
Susan Hagerty
Republican
Republican Susan Hagerty said taxes need to remain stabilized. Older residents can’t afford large increases and it is important to keep these residents in town, she said.
"I’d like to keep taxes down," Ms. Hagerty said. "There are a lot of older residents in town and people on fixed incomes who would like to see the budget maintained so they can continue to live here."
One policy Ms. Hagerty said should be examined by the committee in the coming years is the collection of garbage by private companies.
"We have to pay separate for it and there are a lot of companies who handle Cranbury," she said.
Ms. Hagerty also said the companies supplying the township’s water and sewage facilities should also be examined.
"It would be good to try to keep those at a reasonable rate," she said.
As far as open space and farmland preservation, Ms. Hagerty said she is satisfied with the committee’s accomplishments so far.
"They have done it the right way," she said. "We should recognize that we do need open spaces."
Ms. Hagerty said the preservation of farmland west of Route 130 is an important way of keeping Cranbury’s extensive history alive.
"These farms are the beginnings of Cranbury," she said. "We should have some of our history preserved."
For land along Route 130, Ms. Hagerty said the committee should look into retail development possibilities.
"We have to progress," she said. "It would be nice to have a restaurant or a convenience store, something new that is not in town."
Although Ms. Hagerty said there is not a large amount of land left to develop along Route 130, there are still areas that would support retail development without causing an increase in traffic problems.
"There is still a lot of area that can be developed down by Volkswagen towards Hightstown," she said. "I don’t think it would cause a lot of traffic."
On the Wright and West properties adjacent to Town Hall, Ms. Hagerty said she would like to see the construction of a municipal complex that would house the police headquarters, a public library, a senior center and community meeting rooms.
"Regardless of using the Old School as the Town Hall, the library needs larger quarters and the police certainly needs new quarters," she said. "Both seem to be outgrowing their space."
Casha Caponegro
Mary Ellen Larson
Democrat
Democratic candidate Mary Ellen Larson said she is satisfied with the current state of the township budget, although she noted that more should be done to maintain a low tax rate in the future.
"I believe the committee has done a good job keeping taxes down," she said. "There are always things that can be added to the budget, but you have to balance them by increasing ratables so taxes can be spread out."
As a way to increase ratables, thereby lowering taxes, Ms. Larson supports the continuing development of warehouses on the east side of Route 130.
"There is only a limited amount of properties left to build on," she said. "It is not up to us to stop people from developing on their land. Warehouses are the best thing we can put there."
When discussing what should be developed along Route 130, Ms. Larson said she is concerned with the amount of traffic these developments would create.
"Additional office spaces would increase traffic," she said. "Warehouse development will not increase truck traffic through town."
"I do not support additional commercial development on Route 130," she said. "If we have to, it should be something that is not open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in order to keep traffic low."
Ms. Larson also said the committee needs to prohibit additional development west of Route 130.
"I do not think we should do any more than what has currently been planned," she said. "We should try to preserve our way of life and reduce the number of developments.
"We have been aggressive in the past and should remain aggressive about this," she said, supporting the township’s continued participation in the open space and farmland preservation programs.
For development downtown, Ms. Larson said she would like to compile a "wish list" to discuss with a planner.
"We need a ‘what if’ plan for downtown," she said. "If we do something we need to decide how and where. All needs have to be planned."
Included on Ms. Larson’s "wish list" are a new public library and a larger police headquarters.
"I would like to see the police in the downtown area, which would be good for the community," she said. "It is expensive to obtain land on the east side of Route 130."
Despite her desire for a downtown police headquarters, Ms. Larson said its location would have to be decided by the community."
"The chief has the best feel for where they would like to be," she said. "We would need to have a public meeting to discuss this further. This decision is not entirely up to the committee. It is a public process."
Casha Caponegro
Republican
The current mayor of Cranbury, Michael Mayes also hopes to keep taxes down over the next three years maintaining the flat tax rate that has been in place for the past several years.
"I will work very hard to keep the tax rate stable," said Mr. Mayes.
One of his major budget concerns includes the township’s growing debt burden, which he said may peak at $24 million in the coming years a much larger burden than 10 years ago when there was no debt.
"This growing debt burden troubles me," he said, recommending a debt reduction program. "I am pretty confident, however, that ratable growth will be there and we will get over this squeeze."
Mr. Mayes said he fully supports the township’s continued participation in the open space and farmland preservation programs.
"There are some significant parcels in town left for farmland preservation," he said. "Only two or three of these are of any considerable size. Most of the big parcels are done and over 2,000 acres have been preserved.
"We are getting close to finishing the open space program," said Mr. Mayes. "It began 15 years ago and has been enormously successful. Almost everything to the west is preserved to Plainsboro. It is a wonderful accomplishment."
Along Route 130, Mr. Mayes said he would support businesses that would not detract from downtown businesses.
"I do not want to create more competition for Main Street," he said.
Although Mr. Mayes said the development of warehouses east of Route 130 is necessary to fulfill the town’s need for commercial ratables, he is concerned that the town might become overbuilt with warehouses.
"I would like to see a more diversified mix," he said.
Mr. Mayes said a new police station will surely be needed in the coming years.
"They clearly have a need as their department keeps getting bigger," he said. "There are five sites we are currently looking at. We are looking for whatever site we can find that works for the police and minimizes spending."
Mr. Mayes said that whatever the committee decides to do concerning a new police headquarters will be carried out with the approval of residents.
"We don’t want to spend a fortune," he said. "This will be a lengthy and public process."
Casha Caponegro
Democrat
Richard Stannard wants the township to keep taxes stable. One way to do so, he said, is to continue to minimize residential development and encourage the construction of warehouses east of Route 130. He said that while building commercial office space would create more traffic, warehouses are a lesser evil and a benefit for Cranbury.
"The debt is higher than it has been, but it’s not extreme," he said. "We need to continue on the path of development that we have now."
Mr. Stannard said he feels that further construction of new homes cuts down on necessary open space, and he does not advocate this type of residential development.
"We have to be careful with development because of the effect on the budget and school space," he said. "Cranbury school is close to full, it is very expensive to educate students and we need to preserve the historic and farmland look."
Mr. Stannard does favor the development of a senior center/community center in the center of town that could be used for bridge clubs, shows or as a meeting place.
"There is a growing population of seniors," he said. "We need to consider a facility that benefits a greater chunk of the population."
Mr. Stannard added that building a new police station on the west side of town would provide another community asset.
"Building and creating these things adds to the allure of Cranbury for now and for decades," he said."
Mr. Stannard expressed opposition to the development of fast food restaurants or convenience stores along Route 130.
"These places bring trash and transients," he said.
Mr. Stannard recommended only small services and larger restaurants for the area and said that he feels there are enough fast food restaurants a convenient distance away.
On the subject of the Cranbury water tower, Mr. Stannard said that he doesn’t see a problem with removing it, though both tearing it down and painting it are expensive.
"I don’t view it as something that needs to be kept to preserve the skyline," he said.
As for a proposal to expand the authority of the Historical Preservation Advisory Committee, he said, HPAC needs to approach issues with property owners very carefully.
"It is the rights of Cranbury people verses the rights of homeowners," he said. "You need to be very careful before you start putting restrictions on people’s property, but part of what drew us to Cranbury is the look of the town."
Melissa Morgan

