Township officials OK bond measure for Weidel tract

Officials said they have not determined what to do with the land

By Audrey Levine
   The Hopewell Township Committee on Monday unanimously voted to OK a bond measure that will allow the town to purchase the 70-acre Weidel tract on the western side of Route 31.
   The land is owned by township resident Pamela Weidel and is a mix of farmland and wetlands.
   The township is planning to pay $5.5 million for the property, with a $275,000 down payment and funds from the $5,225,000 bond ordinance adopted Monday. The money will come from general municipal revenues.
   Although officials said they have not yet determined what to do with the land, Robert Beyer, who lives on Route 31, said he fully supports the purchase.
   "I agree with it," he said. "But I want to keep a significant portion" as open space.
   The committee also unanimously approved a resolution to authorize the donation of bicycles to Pedals for Progress during a Lawrence Hopewell Trail celebration on June 17, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.
   According to Betty Wolfe, project coordinator for the trail, an executive member of the project knew of Pedals for Progress and contacted them to join in the celebration.
   "We need the trail to exercise and enjoy life," she said. "But some people rely on bicycles for transportation. It made us realize how fortunate we are."
   Community members are invited to bring their old bicycles to the Educational Testing Service campus that day and donate them to Pedals for Progress, which will then ship the items to communities in Africa, and Central and South America.
   In addition, during the celebration, the township Police Department will donate bicycles it has impounded.
   According to the committee resolution, the bicycles being held by the Police department are inefficient and costly and would be better used overseas by those who have no other form of transportation available to them.
   Participants will be asked to give a $10 donation to cover the charges of shipping the bicycles overseas.
   The event will also include a nature walk and free refreshments.
   The Lawrence Hopewell Trail is a 20-plus mile loop of multipurpose recreational trails being constructed through public and private lands in Lawrence and Hopewell townships, for walkers, cyclists, skaters and others.
   Four sections of the trail have been completed since construction began five years ago. The June event celebrates the opening of the segment through the Educational Testing Service Green Acres campus in Lawrence.
   The Township Committee also introduced an ordinance amendment that would allow it to create the position of a municipal housing liaison. This person would be the contact between the township and the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).
   The addition of a liaison is a requirement for certification of an Affordable Housing Program, which the township is in the process of completing with COAH.
   According to Committeewoman Judy Niederer, the committee does not have anyone in mind for the position, but someone must be appointed in the near future.
   The ordinance will be passed on to the Planning Board and a public hearing will be held June 26.
   An underage drinking ordinance, which was to have been introduced, was pulled from the agenda and will be discussed at a later date.
   According to Hopewell Mayor Vanessa Sandom, Hopewell Borough Council is creating a similar ordinance proposal of its own and the Township Committee would like to look over the wording of that one before considering introduction of its own.