Locals want Updike saved

Petition seeks preservation.

By: Nick D’Amore
   A petition was presented to the Township Committee Monday to persuade it to purchase the Updike tract for open space rather than allow 16 houses to be built on a portion of the property.
   Sharbell Builders, the developer seeking to build on the site between Old Trenton and Cranbury Neck roads, will leave 35 acres of the 50-acre lot for open space pending the development’s approval because of a cluster provision in township zoning ordinance.
   Under the cluster provision, Sharbell Builders would be granted a bonus of four houses — for a total of 16 — for setting aside 70 percent of the property as open space. Without the cluster, Sharbell would be limited to 12 houses on 4-acre lots.
   Beverly Luck, who presented the petition, said she was concerned about the increased development in the southern section of town.
   "We were encouraged by the residents to do something like that. There are a lot of people that feel strongly that the property should be preserved," she said.
   The Township Committee said it would consider the petition and is talking with the owners of the property about buying it.
   While the township would like to stop the development and preserve the 15 acres, Mayor Michael Mayes said there is only so much the township can do. He said the township needs to decide how much it wants to pay to preserve all 50 acres when the developer would give the township 35 acres at the cost of approving 16 houses.
   The township will be able to preserve 35 acres without having to pay because of the cluster option, said Mayor Mayes. If it wants to prevent the development, it will have to buy the entire property, he said.
   Mayor Mayes said the committee is negotiating with the Updike family to buy the property, and is getting the land appraised.
   Ms. Luck said Thursday that the petition, which 213 people signed, was "concrete proof of the support" of the committee’s actions in trying to purchase the land.
   Judy Dossin, chairwoman of the township Parks Commission, said the commission wants the Township Committee to buy the land as part of the state Green Acres Preservation program and not include it in the state Farmland Preservation program.
   "We would like to see it used for future park space or recreation. The Green Acres program allows more use than the Farmland Preservation program," she said.
   Township Planner Harvey Moskowitz said the Planning Board will consider two plans for the property at its Jan. 24 meeting.
   One calls for 16 houses in a racetrack setup, with the preserved space in the middle of the development and surrounding the development.
   The second plan would place all development on the east side of the tract, with the open space to the west.
   Mr. Moskowitz said an alternative plan was developed because the space is broken up too much in the original plan.
   "The board has 90 days to act on that plan and they will act before then," he said.
   When members of the public brought up concerns about the increase in children and school taxes that the new development would bring, Mr. Moskowitz said it would not have a great impact.
   "The prices of the houses will pay for their impact with taxes," he said, adding that houses in a Toll Brothers development were currently selling for $825,000 and $1 million.
   "If it sells for $750,000 or more, it pays for itself. I urge the Planning Board and committee not to use school taxes as its reasoning," said Mr. Moskowitz.