A train station area plan that’s adrift

Council votes to cancel meeting on redevelopment project

By: Greg Forester
   WEST WINDSOR — The direction of the Princeton Junction transit village project is on hold after the Township Council voted unanimously Monday to cancel the next scheduled project meeting.
   This cancellation followed architect Robert Hillier’s June 4 presentation at Grover Middle School, at which Mr. Hillier said that the political climate in town was harming his firm’s ability to deliver a project the township could accept.
   Mr. Hillier had even suggested at that meeting and subsequent interviews that his firm could resign from the project, although most township officials say they want to firm to stay on.
   "I hope this is going to move forward," said Councilman Charles Morgan, at Monday’s meeting. "We have had some very fruitful discussions and now we need to provide some direction."
   Township Council members and other officials seemed to agree on reasons for canceling the June 18 combined Planning Board and Township Council meeting.
   What they disagreed on was the need to schedule a new meeting immediately, ultimately moving to schedule the next meeting to the July 1 reorganization session.
   July 1 will see the departure of Franc Gambatese from Township Council after his May election defeat, with George Borek coming on to replace him.
   In an interview with The Packet about the state of the project, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said he understood the reasons for the council’s decision to postpone the meeting, but he would have liked to see it schedule a new date.
   "The postponement makes sense to me, although I would have rather seen them reschedule the meeting at the same time," said Mayor Hsueh. "People need the time to digest and review the information they received at the June 4 meeting, and Hillier will then have the opportunity to fine-tune his presentations."
   Mayor Hsueh said the township was going through a very complicated process, and that Mr. Hillier needed to be open and continue to let the public tell his firm what they wanted.
   "I will try to look for constructive comments on Hillier’s last presentation, whether the public agrees or disagrees," Mayor Hsueh said.
   Mayor Hsueh continued to stress that the redevelopment process was an important tool for West Windsor to control developers.
   "Without the redevelopment process we will have development, but without infrastructure," said Mayor Hsueh. "This way, they will have to do certain things to get approval, and that will save taxpayers money and allow us to come out with something constructive."
   Discussion of the meeting’s cancellation began Monday when Councilwoman Heidi Kleinman said the township had "missed the boat" on promoting the June 18 meeting, neglecting to properly publicize the meeting and requiring its cancellation.
   Councilman Will Anklowitz echoed her sentiments, saying the meeting should be canceled and the next date should be set by the reorganized Township Council, which would first sit during the July 1 meeting.
   Councilman Morgan said the meeting needed to be canceled because of the nature of the information provided at the last meeting, including a report on the economic feasibility of the project by Economic Research Associates.
   "The ERA report was so flawed in so many respects," said Mr. Morgan. "We need to stop and ask whether we should move forward."
   Mr. Morgan also commented on the various plans in Mr. Hillier’s June 4 presentation.
   "I don’t hear a plan this community can embrace," said Mr. Morgan. "I think we need to hear the community tell us where they like to take us."
   Outgoing Councilman Gamabatese accused Mr. Morgan and Mr. Anklowitz of playing politics during discussion of the meeting’s cancellation and their insistence on discussing its rescheduling after the July 1 reorganization meeting.
   "This is all a game to you and your little friend over there," Mr. Gambatese said to Mr. Morgan, referring to Mr. Anklowitz.
   Mr. Gambatese also attacked Mr. Morgan’s support for holding a referendum on the project.
   "You were the one who got the redevelopment designation when you were council president, and now you have the audacity to ask for a referendum," said Mr. Gambatese.
   Council President Linda Geevers stressed the importance of keeping the project going and setting a new date for the meeting.
   "This is a critical point in this whole process," said Ms. Geevers. "We need to have discussions and make a consensus, and give direction to Bob Hillier. It’s important to schedule a meeting to keep the conversation going."
   A new meeting date is expected to be scheduled following the Township Council’s July 1 reorganization meeting.