Land sales discarded for
now for fears of backlash
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
SPOTSWOOD — A plan to sell off borough-owned properties has been tabled due to concerns that new development would hurt the school system and tax rate.
At its meeting Monday night, the Borough Council decided not to immediately pursue the idea of selling several medium-sized properties in the center of the borough in the vicinity of Manhattan and New York avenues. The idea, proposed by the administration, met with opposition from some council members, who felt it was inviting a greater burden on the schools, and as a result, property taxpayers.
The proposal was only a discussion item at the meeting. After about 15 minutes of debate, the council decided to wait before making a decision on whether to sell the properties.
Councilman Curtis Stollen said eight of the nine lots are about 100-by-100 square feet in size, and one is 360 by 100. Their estimated market values range from $20,000 to $35,000 each.
While selling the properties would bring immediate funds into the borough coffers, the long-range effects may actually set the borough back if used for residential housing, he argued.
"Why do we want to sell buildable lots at this time?" he said.
Stollen said more houses would mean more children for an already overburdened school system. That, in turn, would increase school taxes.
Spotswood has been unable to get even its regular school budgets passed in recent years in the face of overcrowding and other problems.
Stollen said the properties are located on paper streets — streets that are planned but have not yet been constructed. However, the councilman noted, that doesn’t mean they would not eventually be developed if sold.
Stollen found agreement in an unusual place — Councilman James Shearn, who acknowledged he rarely agrees with Stollen.
"God, it hurts me to say I agree with Curt," Shearn said.
Shearn also feared more development because, he said, "our school taxes are crippling the people in town already."
He said he would like to hold off on any possible sale, in hopes that the properties will be worth even more in the future.
Councilman Kevin Meade said the streets are not there now, but warned they could be someday.
After the meeting, Stollen said some of the properties are located close to paved streets and utilities, while others are not. The closer they are, the easier it is to develop them, he noted.
Stollen said that if a builder could buy a few of the properties, building streets and connecting the homes to utilities would then be worthwhile.
Council President Judith Ruffo said some of the properties could very easily be built upon.
The borough acquired the properties through foreclosures, according to Borough Business Administrator Jacqueline Ascione.
The school district was able to pass a $15.9 million referendum in September 2002 to build additions and make improvements in the school district. A previous referendum had been denied.
"I can’t see adding any more beds in the community and saddling schools even more," Stollen said.
"The more properties we sell that penetrate into this one, the more chance it will be developed," he said. "I want to see it undeveloped to homes."
At some point in the future, the council may revisit the idea, however.
Stollen also said he would like to see the properties maintained as open space or possibly as a park.

