GSA could give depot to Hillsborough for park

Local officials vow to work together to make sure Belle Mead Depot becomes open space.

By:John Patten
   If anyone involved in the disposal of the Belle Mead Depot in Hillsborough wondered what local residents and officials wanted done with the property, they couldn’t have missed the message at Saturday’s meeting: Make it a park.
   Hillsborough Mayor Joe Tricarico, Somerset County Freeholder Ken Scherer, Assemblyman Pete Biondi and U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson all told William Costa of the General Services Administration Office of Property Disposal that’s what the community wants.
   And if Mr. Costa wasn’t certain, a unanimous vote by nearly 100 residents packed into the municipal courtroom came in response to a query by Mr. Scherer when he asked, "How many are in favor of turning this land into open space?"
   The GSA is working to remove the 340-acre depot from federal property tallies, and is conducting environmental tests to determine whether or not the area has been contaminated. Mr. Costa said the GSA is obligated to clean up land to levels in accordance with the land’s municipal zoning — currently economic development, a classification that includes warehouses, commercial or industrial.
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‘That’s a no-brainer … The town would be happy to take the property at no cost.’

—Mayor Joe Tricarico

   The GSA also is following a process to locate a future owner of the property. Other branches of the federal government have first claim to properties before disposal, but none has expressed interest. The departments of Health, Education and Welfare and Housing and Urban Development must also be notified of the potential land sale — in the event the property would be suitable for a homeless shelter.
   But in the event neither HEW or HUD want the land — which is expected since the land has too many obstacles for development as residential property — then the GSA can offer the site in a "discounted conveyance" to a state, county or local government for a public use, including park and recreation.
   "That’s a no-brainer," Mayor Tricarico reiterated. "The town would be happy to take the property at no cost."
   The challenge before local officials is acquiring an adjoining 335-acre parcel sold by the GSA to a developer 10 years ago that is now owned by Morgan Chase Bank. At the meeting, Mayor Tricarico said he has been in contact with the bank to inquire about the property, and will be meeting within two weeks with Morgan representatives to try and begin working on securing the land.
   Mr. Biondi suggested the GSA solve the problem by purchasing the land back and correcting any contaminated areas on the site.
   "I believe if not legally, then morally, the federal government has some responsibility for the clean up of this land," he said.
   Although Mr. Costa said he couldn’t commit to such action, U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson offered his help in getting federal assistance to reacquire and clean up the bank-owned property.
   Mr. Costa also said he expects the GSA will begin discussions with local officials about the land within six to nine months. He added the site still contains ore supplies, which the government is selling off but will take until 2007 to deplete.
   Meanwhile, the firm hired by the GSA to assess contamination at the depot, ENSR International, will continue evaluating the results of its surveys. According to spokesman David Grupp, the testing has not revealed any areas of significant pollution yet. He noted more studies need to be done on groundwater near the areas that were used for motor pools when the military operated the depot (1942-58), and several areas indicate low levels of metals.