By: Dick Brinster
EAST WINDSOR Pointing to a lack of public support and cooperation from BAPS Inc., Mayor Janice Mironov surprisingly put her foot down this week, apparently crushing plans for its $142 million Indian American Cultural Complex.
"I will not support a zoning change in East Windsor Township for this project," the mayor said Wednesday night, stunning an audience of 400 that came to discuss a proposal for the tourist attraction near the Twin Rivers community.
Her statement drew applause from about half the audience, many Twin Rivers residents who came to the town forum at the Perry L. Drew Elementary School to oppose the plan by Edison-based BAPS Inc. An equally large contingent of Indian-American backers of the proposal could only ask later that the mayor reconsider, which she said will not happen.
BAPS, a nonprofit Hindu group, said it is weighing its options in the wake of the mayor’s statement. It has not formally filed any applications with the township but could still seek a necessary rezoning of the 152-acre tract of land it owns near Exit 8 of the Turnpike.
The mayor on Wednesday praised BAPS for its charitable work, but said it didn’t understand how some of its actions such as an "illegal" request it made Sept. 1 might be perceived by those opposed to the plan.
"A BAPS representative called our staff at town hall and said they wanted to store soil and materials on the site," Ms. Mironov said. "There’s a meeting already scheduled with a discussion, and the next comment that would have gone around was that construction of the project was commencing. What were they thinking?"
The proposal could not move forward without broad support in the community, the mayor said in her opening remarks, adding that the controversy surrounding the project was built in part on misconceptions and misinformation and skepticism by opponents that the township already had made a deal.
She said such support did not mean a majority vote of the Township Council, something critics, led by Scott Pohl, president of the Twin Rivers board of directors, said would become reality despite the mayor’s insistence over the last four months that she had taken no position.
Mr. Pohl, who had said BAPS believed it could get what it wanted just because it came to town with a "boatload of money," was satisfied just six nights after asking the mayor to leave a private session he held to discuss the matter. (See story on Page 3A.)
"I was greatly relieved at Mayor Mironov’s surprise announcement," said Mr. Pohl, who has been saying the complex would ruin Twins Rivers, largely because of its traffic impact. "In this case, government worked as it should, and listened to the voices of the people.
"I thank the mayor for making the right decision for the people of East Windsor."
The mayor said she reminded BAPS representatives in recent days that they were expected to honor an understanding with the township that they would address concerns of the residents.
"They refused to concur," Ms. Mironov said. "They dishonored the understanding under which this project went out for public discussion."
More specifically, she cited BAPS’ failure to deliver a traffic survey, something the Twin Rivers group also wanted in hopes of proving the complex a half-mile away would be detrimental to the community.
"They were asked for additional information on the traffic survey," Ms. Mironov said. "As of today, they have not provided it."
A BAPS spokeswoman said in a statement to the Herald that the organization has not decided on a course of action.
"We are currently evaluating our options and remain committed to trying to work with township leaders and members of the community so we may properly address our mutual needs and concerns," Liz Thomas said. "BAPS has spent many months listening and trying to respond to various community comments and concerns."
Despite the impassioned pleas on both sides of the issue, Twin Rivers residents and members of the Indian community sat among one another without incident. The mayor said she was pleased to see that showing of mutual respect and gratified by what she said were the good wishes expressed afterward by her "friends" in the Indian community.
When speaking, many of them said they respected the mayor despite their disappointment. But Ashok Patel was critical of her stance.
"You broke our hearts tonight," he said. "You should bring the sides together instead of putting your foot down."
Twin Rivers board member John Pagliarulo also had unity on his mind, and told the mayor he was sorry about some sentiment in the community questioning her integrity and suggesting she was secretly in support of the project.
"I met with many residents and the impression we got was that it was a done deal," he said. "I apologize. You did your job. I support you."
But Subodh Kotian, who spoke in favor of the proposal, said he hoped the mayor could be more conciliatory.
"For every problem, there’s a solution," he said. "That’s why we are here, to resolve it."
One of the main objections of Twins Rivers residents was the traffic the project figured to attract. Mr. Pohl, who last month threatened a lawsuit by his board against the township if the project went forward, also was unable to obtain a traffic survey from BAPS.
The nonprofit group estimated at one point that 1,500 cars would enter the site off Milford Road on weekends.
A 120-foot-high memorial structure, the centerpiece of 17 buildings proposed for the 152-acre parcel, also was a concern of residents.
Linda Caffrey said BAPS representatives at one of two earlier public meetings told her the organization was not flexible about halving the 12-story height of the structure.
"Four stories higher than the Lincoln Memorial in East Windsor!" Ms. Caffrey said, adding that approval of such an edifice could have opened the door to large office buildings unsuitable to the community.
BAPS has said its project would be worth $665,000 annually to the community including $500,000 to the general budget under a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program. It claimed, by comparison, that a warehouse on the property with square footage of 875,000 would pay $575,000 in taxes.
The property, adjacent to the Conair plant, is zoned industrial-office. BAPS bought the parcel two years ago and would have needed a zoning change.
BAPS, which also proposed a $2 million donation to the township’s recreation and open spaces coffers, estimates annual visitor spending of $56.5 million.
Included in the development plan was an assembly hall, conference and exhibition center, youth center, food court and shopping area, Indian restaurant, yoga and meditation center, house of worship, library and research center and visitors center.

