Hsueh calls for approval of funding for Planning Board work, or the scrapping of the entire project
By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — The Township Council members blamed for a lack of progress in redevelopment planning by the mayor at a meeting over the weekend responded Monday, tossing the blame back at the feet of the administration and the Planning Board.
They pointed to a body of work since the new council took over in July, which includes the drafting of redevelopment principles and a set of guidelines for the Planning Board, and resolving to hire a redevelopment attorney.
”We have been doing our share, we have had meetings with the Planning Board and the administration,” said Councilman George Borek. “If anyone has been stalling, it has been the administration and the Planning Board.”
This newest exchange follows last week’s special redevelopment meeting where township consultants presented ideas on how to develop a concept plan for the 350-acre redevelopment zone.
Those called for planning and analysis based on the selection of different scenarios of possible development, which seemed to directly contradict guidelines provided by council to the Planning Board that urged the initial consideration of only parking, infrastructure improvements and a main street area near Route 571.
Some council members said that if the contradictions, inertia and lack of leadership they see on the part of the administration and the Planning Board continues, they would be glad to step back in and take over planning responsibilities.
”I am still wondering where the leadership is on specifics of the plan on the part of the mayor,” said Council President Will Anklowitz. “I feel the council may need to step in.”
For any of the new planning proposals to move forward, council has to approve an additional bond ordinance to fund the work of the township’s professionals, who recently made proposals for $105,000 to pay for their work.
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh — who made the original statements blaming the council for the inactivity at a town hall meeting Saturday — has called for the timely approval of the funding or the scrapping of the entire project.
”If there is no funding, Planning Board can not do it, and it will go back to council,” said Mayor Hsueh on Monday. “There are many other important projects in West Windsor that we need to concentrate on.”
Councilwoman Linda Geevers said she did not support the additional funding, at least until it could be reconciled with a $330,000 contract that was given to project planner RMJM Hillier.
”I am very mindful of the taxpayers’ money and as of right now I am not supporting this bond ordinance,” said Ms. Geevers, who cited the possibility of duplication of services in the original contract and the work proposals of the township consultants.
She also questioned whether or not the council ever really wanted to move forward on redevelopment.
”I just feel there is a question of whether the majority of council really wants a comprehensive redevelopment plan,” said Ms. Geevers. “The question before council now should be do you really want to do redevelopment.
”Let’s stop the charade and have a substantive discussion,” she added.
Mayor Hsueh blamed additional costs on the council-initiated deviation from the original planning process set out by the township in 2006.
”Right now, we are not following our original scope of services, and council wants the Planning Board to do more work than originally planned,” said Mayor Hsueh on Monday. “The reason is we were supposed to have more discussion in the next phase of the process, but council cancelled all of the future meetings.”
The meetings would have followed a presentation by project planner Hillier on June 4, but the new Township Council that met on July 1 canceled those meetings.
The takeover of planning responsibilities by the Planning Board recently — at the behest of the council — was causing continued delays and an increase in costs, according to Mayor Hsueh.
Councilman Charles Morgan completely disagreed.
”It’s a crock,” said Mr. Morgan, who said the mayor continues to go in a direction different from what is wanted by the township’s governing body.
”A leader who really wants to lead needs to take into account what the team wants to do,” Mr. Morgan said.
Some on the council also responded by pointing to what they see as a body of work they have done on planning for the redevelopment zone since the council was reorganized on July 1.
Despite the continually politicized process, Mayor Hsueh said he was still optimistic about council moving the process forward and approving additional monies. “I am still very hopeful that the Township Council will move along once they understand the implications,” Mayor Hsueh said.