Letters to the Editor, Nov. 16, 2006

St. Michael’s walk
To the editor:
   
Jamie Sapoch, Leslie Potter and I would like to invite everyone to come to the St. Michael’s property this Sunday, Nov. 19, to hear a short presentation about the proposed purchase of the property by D&R Greenway and to walk the property with a guide. We will start our walk at 2 p.m. Expect it to take a little over an hour, expect muddy ground, expect great refreshments at the end along with the exhilaration of having spent the afternoon enjoying our beautiful Hopewell along with many of your neighbors.
   Parking is plentiful at the elementary school. Bring your children — they love the open space and vistas! Bring your thinking cap to help us figure out how we can raise the additional monies needed for final purchase. Most importantly, dress comfortably for the weather and wear shoes that can handle the mud. If you get a chance to let us know you’ll be there, we’ll be sure to have enough donuts and cider.
   You can leave e-mail notes for either Jamie at [email protected] or with me at [email protected]. The phone also works: Jamie is 466-3127, I’m 466-0990. We look forward to spending the afternoon with you and your family.
Lori Saporito
Hopewell Borough
The Martin tract story
To the editor:
   
I am writing in response to several questions that have been raised in connection with the recent auction of a portion of the Martin property in Hopewell Township.
   By way of background, on Sept. 20, 2004, the estate of Edward Martin sold the 251-acre farm to Hopewell Township for $5,386,180. The fair market value appraisal of this property had been determined as $21,526/acre or$5,411,000.
   On June 13, 2006, Hopewell Township sold an easement on 142.09 acres of this property for agricultural preservation to the State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC). The 142 acres included all tillable agricultural areas plus wetlands and hedgerows. The sale price of these 142 acres was $2,150,148 or $15,132/acre. The fair market value appraisal of the agricultural easement (ordered and certified by the SADC) was $17,800/acre. Key restrictions of this agricultural preservation include a 6 percent impervious coverage limitation, a 2,500-square-foot residential dwelling, and perhaps most importantly that the owner develop and implement a Natural Resources Conversation Plan.
   On or before Dec. 31, 2006, the township will close on the sale of the restricted fee of these 142 acres to Bryce Thompson, subject to the SADC agricultural preservation easement described in the preceding paragraph. The final public auction price was $1,375,000 or $9,683/acre.
   In calendar year 2007, subject to Green Acres funding at the state level, the township will sell an easement for public access and open space on wooded (non-farm) parcels on the remaining 109.27 acres. The anticipated sale price is $1,176,073 (based on 50 percent of the 2004 per-acre purchase price or $10,763/acre.)
   This is and continues to be a complex process, involving many parties over many months of work. However, it is a fairly typical process in today’s complicated world of open space and agricultural preservation.
   Hopewell Valley is very fortunate to have actively involved friends helping us to preserve our rich agricultural heritage. Without the support of the D&R Greenway, the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, the Open Space and Agricultural committees, the Elm Ridge Area Neighborhood Association and Hopewell Borough, the Watershed, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), SADC and Green Acres, many properties such as the Martin and St. Michael’s properties would be housing developments today.
   The bottom line? Municipal tax contributions were used to protect 251 acres of open space and agriculture from development, amounting to approximately $684,959 — or approximately $2,700 per acre, which is one eighth of the fair market value. The Martin tract is an excellent example of how taxpayer funds can be leveraged to preserve open space through the cooperative efforts of many local, county and state parties.
Vanessa Sandom, mayor,
Hopewell Township
Hopewell safety issues
To the editor:
   
In regard to Mary Rabbitt’s letter about the speeding in Hopewell, I could not agree more. She is 100 percent correct.
   I walk in the borough a lot. I am appalled at the speed of most vehicles, and many of them are local people. Ms. Rabbitt is also correct in her observation that one does not see many speeders in Pennington, Rocky Hill or Princeton. Those communities do enforce the posted speed limits. While the problem is most visible on Broad, Greenwood, and Model, it also routinely occurs on just about all of the streets.
   The lack of visibility of the crosswalks does present a public safety issue. Many of the crosswalks are almost completely worn away. The new one in front of the library is well marked, but a driver cannot see the pedestrians trying to use it because vehicles park right up to it and sometimes even on it. Most drivers do not stop for the pedestrian. Many times 10 or more cars will go speeding by while I wait in a crosswalk that is visible to the driver.
   From a driver’s standpoint, jaywalkers are a concern, also. The first block of East Broad has two crosswalks — one at the Greenwood light and the one in front of the library. However, more often than not, people jaywalk across Broad Street rather than go a few feet to use one of the crosswalks.
   I, too, hope that we get an enhanced police presence in the borough.
Winona Frye
Hopewell
A winning team!
To the editor:
   
As a parent of a freshman football player, I had to write to give the team their due recognition for a well-played season. The 31-player team completed their season undefeated (9-0), having scored 304 points to their opponents’ 71. Some of the players are alumni of the Pop Warner program; some are first-time players. Together, under Coach Harrison and Coach Stout, they became a winning team. Congratulations to the freshman team, as well as the junior varsity and varsity teams. Congratulations also to everyone who worked hard to bring football to Hopewell and who continue to work hard to keep it here.
Debbie Konrad
Pennington
Chipowsky says thanks
To the editor:
   
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my supporters in the recent election, and publicly express my appreciation for all of the hardworking people who assisted me and my family in the campaign. My wife and I made many wonderful new friends, and I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many of my fellow citizens here in the township, to listen to their concerns, and to delve into the issues that impact everyone in this community.
   It is essential that we all remain ever-mindful of the issues facing our community, that we hold our leaders accountable for their actions, and that we elevate the needs of all of our citizens above petty politics and the limited interests of a few special interest groups. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given as a resident of this township, and I look forward to many more years of service to my community.
Mike Chipowsky
Titusville
Pennington’s future
To the editor and Pennington residents:
   
As a candidate for Pennington Borough Council this past Election Day, I would like to offer my congratulations to Tony Persichilli, Joe Lawver, and Eileen Heinzel whom Pennington voters elected to the posts of mayor and members of Borough Council, respectively. I wish them success as they chart Pennington’s future, one that contains great challenges but even greater promise. I stand ready to assist them in any way possible.
   I also would like to thank all the residents of Pennington for considering my candidacy, especially those who encouraged me to run and supported my efforts and those of my runningmates, Jim Benton and Cosmo Iacavazzi. We were warmly received as we campaigned and appreciate the many thoughtful comments made by many of you over the past two months.
   Having knocked on every door in Pennington and meeting so many of you during this fall, I became keenly aware of the things that are important to you — keeping Pennington affordable, controlling property taxes, improving pedestrian safety, addressing school busing and revitalizing our downtown. These are the issues I raised for discussion during the campaign because these are the issues you were concerned about.
   I am committed to Pennington’s future. I have expressed my interest in remaining involved in our community and working with you to keep Pennington a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Rachel Donington-Torpey
Pennington
Kudos to council!
To the editor:
   
I want to express my thanks to the Hopewell Borough Council, and the former members of the Valley’s Task Force on Traffic and Trucking, for their steadfast opposition to the Turnpike Authority’s proposed Route 92 extension. If the Army Corps of Engineers approves permits to construct 92, it would bring every bit of the turnpike’s traffic six miles closer to Hopewell and a whole chain of other historic communities. I’m glad to hear that the council knows that it has enough traffic as it is.
   However, David Knights’ failure to recuse himself from the vote speaks volumes about his priorities, and his ethics. Mr. Knights is the head of Princeton University’s for-profit developer arm, Princeton Forrestal Associates, which stands to make huge profits from sprawl development if 92 is built. By voting against the council’s resolution against 92, he has put Princeton University’s profits ahead of Hopewell Borough’s well-being. Fox. Henhouse. Guard.
Steve Masticola
Kingston
Muoio says thanks
To the editor:
   
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported my reelection to the Mercer County Freeholder Board on Nov. 7. I look forward to three more years of serving the people of Mercer County and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so. If I can ever be of assistance to you regarding a county matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached by phone at 989-6557, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Thank you again for the honor and privilege of serving as your freeholder. I look forward to hearing from you.
Elizabeth M. Muoio
Mercer County freeholder
Pennington
Thanks for food
To the editor:
   
The poll workers from Districts 1 and 2 in Hopewell Borough would like to thank Paul Anzano and Arthur Maurice for bringing us food on Election Day. It was a very busy day and the food they brought was really appreciated.
Carol Pfister
Hopewell
About the vineyard
To the editor:
   
I attended the hearing held on Nov. 1 on the Hopewell Valley Vineyard’s use variance application for the proposed multipurpose/catering hall facility. One of the critical issues to be determined is how this proposed commercial use reconciles with the township’s Master Plan and the fact that the proposed use is not discussed within it. The Master Plan speaks generally about promoting agriculture and agritourism, but it is not specific about what that means or if there were intended limitations on it.
   However, after reading all the statements within the plan and the zoning ordinance, which seem to stress the goal of protecting and conserving the environmental and rural quality of this area in the township, I do not see how one can make the quantum leap that the Planning Board would have included commercial facilities for weddings and parties within the realm of agriculturally related activities if they were told about it at the time they wrote the plan.
   However, it seems that the representatives from the agricultural community who spoke, including those present from the township’s Agricultural Advisory Committee, wanted the Master Plan to be interpreted to embrace any type of business that would help a farmer make money, almost to the exclusion, it seems, of the rights of anyone else. Several persons urged that the face of agriculture is changing and that we all need to accept that reality. A farmer from the audience even suggested that if the rest of us didn’t like it, we should just move. Other farmers, including Sergio Neri, threatened the neighbors with a housing development (which would actually be less intensive in terms of traffic) if the board did not give him what he wanted. It is hard to believe that a housing development is the only workable alternative for this property if the catering facility is not approved. I see this mindset as very dangerous and am wondering if the rest of the agricultural committee is this biased.
   If these persons’ views of what constitutes a "farm-related" activity are to be accepted, one can imagine the potential for problems here; besides the full-fledged catering business proposed at this vineyard, what about placing an ethanol production facility on a farm? After all, ethanol is derived from corn. How about if a hamburger chain buys a farm, raises cattle on it and then opens up a fast-food restaurant upon the premise that its beef comes from the cattle? These types of activities (including the catering business) are not protected by the state’s Right-to-Farm laws and it seems obvious that they are not compatible with rural residential uses. These are not "seasonal" farm-related activities, but year-round commercial enterprises. If agriculture is turning into "agricommercial" and agri-industry," then maybe the township should rethink its zoning and limit agriculture uses to industrial and commercial zones, which have the road networks to support them. They certainly do not belong in a zone set aside for "Valley Resource Conservation."
   The catering facility use that Hopewell Valley Vineyards proposes is separate and distinct from the vineyard; it could just as easily exist by itself in several other more compatible zones in this township. I would be willing to bet that if a person wanted to rent the premises for a totally nonalcoholic party, that it would be rented to him. Selling wine in connection with this use does not even have to come into play. It’s interesting to see how Mr. Neri has reversed himself with respect to this application. If one reads the public notice that was placed in the newspaper, "wine-tasting" was listed next to last in the long list of proposed uses for the catering space. Then, in a media report, after hearing all the objectors, Mr. Neri is quoted saying: "We just want to expand the taste room to host more people for winery tours and possible events that would attract some people." I do not see how, if this proposal is granted, it can be controlled without creating a perpetual battleground between the vineyard and surrounding neighborhood. Why do we need to create more problems in this township?
   As a person who has worked with farmland preservation for many years, I believe that farming is very important and that land should be preserved for that purpose. However, we must also remember that we live in the most densely populated state in the country. The municipal land use law purports to authorize municipalities to zone for a variety of uses to meet the needs of all New Jersey citizens and the needs of the farming community should to be reviewed and balanced in that context. Not every zone permitting agriculture should be allowed to turn into a commercial zone under the guise of "farming" or "agritourism," to the detriment of everyone else.
Sharon Dragan
Hopewell Township