Vote delayed because township professionals had not reviewed necessary information from applicants.
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
MONTGOMERY Officials with the Princeton Airport again went before the township Planning Board on Monday seeking to build two hangars but, as at the last meeting, no vote was taken.
The application was a continuation from the board’s May 9 meeting and will be heard again on June 13.
Because township professionals had not reviewed necessary information, a vote was halted until engineer Thomas Miller could provide more detailed advice.
In contrast to the previous hearing, members of the public turned out Monday to hear the application, which is part of the airport’s build-out plan.
The application, which requests placing two fixed-wing hangars totaling 24,460 square feet on the western portion of the property, was not voted on at the last meeting because of late and missing paperwork from the airport. The application also includes the addition of four helicopter tie-downs and construction of a 3,300-square-foot second story on an existing one-story office building.
The expanded hangar space one is proposed to be 12,960 square feet and the other 11,500 square feet would not markedly increase noise around the airport, said Lewis Goodfriend, a consultant hired by the airport to evaluate the noise impact associated with the project. He said the increased noise should be unnoticeable.
Surrounding residences include homes in Cherry Hill Estates and along Copper Vail Court. The Yorkshire and Woods Edge communities are located to the south of the airport.
From Copper Vail Court, an aircraft in taxi mode from the proposed hangar would generate about 61 decibels, Mr. Goodfriend said in his testimony at the May 9 meeting. That level, he said, is similar to speech at a few feet.
"The change in sound level can be subjectively described as barely noticeable" to people, according to a report Mr. Goodfriend submitted to the board.
But residents expressed concern about the increase in traffic the hangar would attract. Steve Lane said the board should consider the worst possible scenario when evaluating noise.
But airport owner Ken Nierenberg said the worst case was appraised in Mr. Goodfriend’s report. The occurrence of two aircraft exiting the hangar and taxiing at once "just doesn’t happen," Mr. Nierenberg said.
"Honestly, I don’t think anyone will notice any difference," Mr. Nierenberg said.
For some residents, the addition of helicopter tie-downs raised red flags. Mr. Nierenberg responded that the number of tie-downs does not dictate the number of helicopters at the facility. Township planner Cindy Coppola and board chairman Steven Sacks-Wilner confirmed that statement, explaining that tie-downs are parking spaces for based helicopters.
At the last meeting, township professionals suggested that the board consider hiring a noise expert for a second opinion. On Monday, board member Beth Torpey agreed.
"I don’t think it is unreasonable for the Planning Board to hire our own consultant," she said. Her statement was followed by applause from the crowd.
Following the meeting, Mr. Sacks-Wilner said he did not know if the board would hire its own noise consultant.

