Some reservations voiced on cost and payoff
By: Nick Norlen
WEST WINDSOR Despite the absence of councilman Charles Morgan, whose concerns led to the tabling of the issue last week, West Windsor Township Council Monday endorsed an application for a program to govern environmental standards for the redevelopment area surrounding the Princeton Junction train station.
Holding its regular business meeting in the midst of a state of emergency due to flooding, the council passed a resolution 4-0 supporting an application filed by Hillier Architecture for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development Pilot program.
According to a Hillier press release, the program would provide "independent, third-party verification that a development location and design meet accepted high standards for environmentally responsible, sustainable development."
Council members Franc Gambatese, Heidi Kleinman and Linda Geevers voiced support for the resolution Monday.
"This resolution doesn’t commit us to the project. It’s just saying that we’re approving of making the application," said Ms. Geevers. "We should hear in May whether we’re one of the 120 municipalities selected. And it doesn’t cost us anything to apply."
But Mr. Morgan called that "misleading" Thursday, and said he was disappointed he wasn’t able to vote on the issue Monday.
"I just don’t believe the representation that the vote didn’t commit us," he said. "It did."
While Mr. Morgan expressed favor for the LEED concept at the April 10 meeting, he said at the time that he had concerns about the $20,000 fee required for participation, as well as possible consultant fees that could be incurred.
Councilman Will Anklowitz expressed concerns similar to Mr. Morgan’s Monday.
"I’m still troubled by the commitment that we make," he said, noting that he’s worried about the "question of whether they could force us to proceed if we don’t want to spend the $20,000 fee that comes up later."
However, members of council, township attorney Michael Herbert, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh and Business Administrator Chris Marion have all said that such costs could be recoupable under state redevelopment statutes.
At Monday’s meeting, Ms. Kleinman said the program is worthwhile.
"This is all about making an investment in our town," she said. "And the bigger the investment people make, this hopefully will increase the tax ratables in our town at a very high level because of the quality development that we are projecting to follow through over the next couple of years."
But Mr. Anklowitz, who voted in support of the application, said he hasn’t seen proof that the program would pay off.
"If this was a vote on spending $20,000, I’d vote it down in a heartbeat given what I have in front of me now," he said, "but on the understanding that it’s just to proceed and support the application and hope that we preserve that door later, sounds fine."

