Water lines approved for projects in Rocky Hill

Controversial 34-unit housing project target of pipeline program

By: Jake Uitti
   ROCKY HILL — The Borough Council on Monday approved an ordinance allowing New Jersey American Water Co. to construct, expand and maintain water facilities on Princeton Avenue.
   The project will service the controversial Pulte/Schafer Homes development, known as the Rocky Hill Estates, as well as recently opened Van Horne Park.
   The plan for Rocky Hill Estates was approved June 29, and calls for 34 age-restricted, single-family homes off Princeton Avenue on the former Schafer Tract.
   The council, however, did not approve the developer’s agreement with Pulte Homes, pushing it off until the January meeting. The developer’s agreement certifies the borough’s acceptance of the terms negotiated with the Planning Board for the Pulte development.
   Approval of the new water lines came amid discussion from the public, as well as among council members.
   Officials from the Rocky Hill Fire Department supported the extra water lines on Princeton Avenue, saying they would better service existing homes, as well as the Pulte homes, if a fire broke out in that area.
   Residents on Princeton Avenue, Hickory Court and Crescent Avenue would benefit, fire officials said, because the new lines would increase the water flow.
   Borough resident Tom Roshetar, a member of the Planning Board, told the council he was unhappy that there was not sufficient notice made to the residents on Princeton Avenue about the proposal for the new lines, given the construction that would be necessary.
   Mr. Roshetar said he wanted to see, once the construction was finished, all of Princeton Avenue paved from curb to curb.
   James Muller, the attorney representing Pulte Homes, said his company would comply with whatever the borough engineer recommended regarding the paving.
   Other residents voiced concerns about the possibility of blasting on Princeton Avenue, which is in the heart of the borough.
   Richard Moralle, the engineer for Pulte Homes, said he did not foresee any need for blasting, adding that the company would avoid blasting if at all possible.
   Borough resident Susan Bristol, a former chairwoman of the borough Planning Board and one of the co-founders of the Rocky Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth — a citizens’ group fighting the approval of the Estates in court — asked the council to reject the application for the water lines, calling any approval "irresponsible."
   On Oct. 27, the citizens’ group filed an appeal of the project’s approval in state Superior Court against Rocky Hill, the Planning Board and the Pulte/Schafer Group.
   Mr. Muller said that once the litigation is settled and Pulte receives the requisite permits for the project from state agencies, he expected construction to begin in the summer of 2007.
   Due to the amount of concern and discussion on the subject, Borough Councilman Jared Witt moved to table the ordinance until the council’s January meeting.
   "I don’t see why this is urgent," Mr. Witt said. "By tabling this, it’s a neutral move."
   Since Pulte is involved in litigation with the citizens’ group, Mr. Witt said, the borough’s approval of the water lines may seem in court to be an acquiescence on its part, in effect promoting the application.
   Following discussion, the council voted 4-1 in favor of the water lines, with Mr. Witt casting the lone negative vote.
   In other business Monday, the council approved a wellhead protection ordinance establishing three tiers of protection around its well-water supply.
   Mayor George Morren said he hopes this is the first step for regional protection.
   "We hope that this is the beginning of a region-wide effort to protect wellheads," Mayor Morren said.
   Neighboring Montgomery Township recently sent a wellhead protection ordinance similar to Rocky Hill’s to the state for review and approval.