Montgomery Township Committee takes another stab in its so-far fruitless effort to acquire 250-acre site.
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
MONTGOMERY The Township Committee has taken another stab in its so-far fruitless effort to acquire the 250-acre North Princeton Developmental Center property from the state, an undertaking that has brought about mostly bad blood.
The committee has extended an invitation to acting Gov. Richard Codey to meet with township representatives and participate in a walking tour of the state-owned property within the next two weeks.
A letter to the acting governor, dated Jan. 6, was signed by all five committee members. A copy appears as a letter to the editor on Page 6A of today’s Packet.
"We sincerely believe this dispute can be resolved if and when a recognition of the myriad concerns can be objectively discussed in good faith," the committee said in the letter.
"We believe an onsite inspection of the dilapidated buildings, broken pipes, propane tanks that smell of fumes, exposed gas lines, broken windows, lack of doors at the power station, exposed asbestos insulation, landfill with suspected PCB’s, a hazardous dam, uncared-for grounds and the results of recent pitiful efforts to board up doorways and windows will provide for a realistic perspective," the letter continued.
The state Department of Treasury owns the property, which has been abandoned since 1998. Since then, the township has been in negotiations with the department to buy the land from the state.
On Monday, Mayor Louise Wilson said the committee sought to invite acting Gov. Codey to Montgomery because "a visit to the site is worth more than five meetings in Trenton about it."
With all due respect to the acting governor, Mayor Wilson said, "You don’t understand the magnitude of the problem unless you see it with your own eyes."
Mayor Wilson said, to her knowledge, the acting governor has not visited the site since its abandonment.
Calls seeking comment from Mr. Codey’s office were not returned. On Monday, the mayor said she had not received any word back from the acting governor’s office on the invitation.
Valerie Smith, spokeswoman for the Citizens’ Committee for NPDC, a group formed to seek a speedy transfer of the property to the township, said the committee "completely supports" the township’s decision to seek the involvement of acting Gov. Codey.
"It’s a great idea. We’ve actually requested a meeting with the acting governor, Richard Codey, as well," said Ms. Smith, adding the citizens’ committee continues to take all possible measures to expedite the shift of the land’s ownership to the township.
The township and the state have been in negotiations over NPDC since the mid-1990s.
Since its abandonment, the property has been subject to vandalism. A suspected arson fire in November that destroyed the Lakeside House infuriated Montgomery officials, who say the property is a magnet for those looking for mischief.
Last month, citing violations of federal and state environmental laws, the township filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Treasury over conditions at NPDC. The suit seeks to compel the state to correct environmental contamination.
The cost of the environmental cleanup has been estimated at $10 million, including soil and groundwater remediation, demolition of 100 buildings, removal of asbestos and lead-based paint and other related measures.
But the Department of the Treasury defends its strategy and has stated that it plans to adequately clean up the site.
In another letter to the editor appearing in today’s Packet, Treasury Department Director of Communications Tom Vincz fired back after the publication of a Jan. 4 letter to the editor submitted by resident Sue Repko. In that letter, Ms. Repko criticized the Department of the Treasury for its lack of environmental remediation at the NPDC site.
Mr. Vincz called Ms. Repko’s letter "a gross misrepresentation" of the Treasury Department’s position regarding the environmental status of the site.
"In the absence of a negotiating avenue for the sale and cleanup of this property, the state’s responsibility is clear," said Mr. Vincz in his letter. "We intend to move forward with plans to address the environmental conditions at the NPDC site."