township facility at the
Heavenly Farms property
Mayor brings back plan for
new multi-use
auditorium
Neary suggests locating
township facility at the
Heavenly Farms property
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — A plan to build a theater and multi-use facility, which did not garner support from a previous Township Council, has found new life with the current governing body.
At a meeting Monday, Mayor William Neary revisited an idea he had a year ago of building a new facility for use by various community groups that would also become a new home for Playhouse 22, the local community theater.
The playhouse would need a new location because, in order to fund the new facility, the township would sell the Dunhams Corner Road property where the theater is currently located.
Neary sought council approval last year for a similar plan, but then-council members Meryle Asaro and Jeffrey Simon were vocal critics of the idea, which they deemed hasty and poorly thought out. Councilman Edwin Brautman also voiced concerns at the time.
However, the mayor last night suggested that — unlike with last year’s plan, which called for the facility to be built near the Crystal Springs Aquatic Center, Dunhams Corner Road — the township use the Heavenly Farms site for the building.
The township is expected to purchase the 147-acre Heavenly Farms property on Cranbury Road for open space or recreational uses.
Neary said that selling the property that is home to the playhouse makes sense because the adjacent site has been sold to a developer who plans to build 11 or 12 homes there.
The same developer is interested in buying the adjacent playhouse property so he can build an additional three or four single-family homes there. Neary said the township estimates its property could fetch $1 million.
"We believe that the property value will only be this high if a developer did not have to start from scratch with a totally different plan," he said.
The township has a 50-year lease with Playhouse 22, and the administration has said that the lease requires the township to relocate the theater group if the property is sold.
"I have had numerous discussions with the new Township Council regarding the plan, and I feel it is time to revisit the idea because, in a very short period of time, this opportunity will be lost," Neary said in reference to the developer’s offer to purchase the township-owned property.
Neary told the council he was asking only if it supports the concept of selling the land and building the facility. He acknowledged that there are many issues to be ironed out, but said it is not worth investing time and money into working on those problems if the council does not support the general concept.
Only three members of the council were in attendance at the meeting, but they voted 2 to 1 to support the concept.
The council introduced an ordinance that would declare the Playhouse 22 land as surplus, which is the first step the township must complete in order to sell the property.
A public hearing is scheduled for the Aug. 11 meeting, and Neary said more details would be available at that time.
Republican Councilwoman Christi Calvano voted against the ordinance, while Democrats David Stahl and Donald Klemp voted in favor of it. Brautman and Catherine Diem, both Democrats, were not in attendance.
During his presentation, Neary said his plan involves building a 15,000-square-foot steel building that would include 7,000 square feet for a new theater and a performing arts auditorium.
It could also house an outdoor amphitheater and possibly a movie theater area where people could sit on blankets and beach chairs.
The remaining 8,000 square feet could be used for a number of purposes, he said, including "meeting rooms, art shows, catered events, dances, additional spaces for concerts and more."
But the proposal has its critics.
Richard Walling, a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and a former member of the Planning Board, urged the council to instead keep the Dunhams Corner Road property as open space.
Robert Tagliente, a Republican who ran for council last year, said that while he favors the Heavenly Farms purchase, he is opposed to selling the Playhouse 22 property to a developer.
"What good is spending money on open space, then giving open space to a developer?" he asked.
Estelle Goldsmith, the township’s historian, said she has concerns about what would happen to the property if it is sold. In addition to housing Playhouse 22, the land is home to the Grange, which has historical value.
"The Grange represents a big piece of our (former) agricultural community," she said.
Raymond Dobrovolsky, president of the community theater troupe that runs Playhouse 22, said his group supports efforts to find a new home. Former Executive Producer Peter Riga said previously that the theater has needed more space for years.
Neary’s strongest opposition came from Calvano, who questioned whether the facility would really only cost $1 million to build.
She said there are no water or sewer lines at Heavenly Farms, and also questioned whether the prefabricated building proposed would be suitable.
She also said it is likely the Playhouse 22 property has contamination that could hurt its selling price.
Neary said the township would have to install a septic system if the facility is built on the Heavenly Farms property.
He also noted the facility would have to be built on a portion of the site not purchased with state Green Acres funds because those spaces must by law remain open space.
Klemp noted that no component of the plan was set in stone and said the council will evaluate all options that might come along.
One of those options could even be expanding the facility for use as a community center if residents favor one through a referendum, Neary said after the meeting.

