By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — Construction projects, township achievements and the redevelopment process were some of the discussion topics at Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh’s town hall meeting held Thursday at the municipal complex.
A smiling Mayor Hsueh gave about 80 residents an overview of the township government’s ongoing activities, along with a glimpse of how he would like to see planning for the township’s contentious redevelopment project go forward.
Mayor Hsueh renewed his calls for those involved in the process to work together in an atmosphere of trust and cooperation, while carefully saving taxpayer dollars, with more than $600,000 in bonds already budgeted for the process.
He said government officials needed to trust their consultants to review the work done by project planner RMJM Hillier and work set to be undertaken by private developers including Steve Goldin, CEO of InterCap Holdings, a major property owner in the township’s 350-acre redevelopment zone.
The mayor said he rejected public fears of massive development and harm coming to the township because of the redevelopment. He said it would shape this generation’s legacy for those living in West Windsor in the future.
”There is no such thing as 1,000 houses,” said Mayor Hsueh. “All we have is information, and we can tell the consultants what we really want.”
But some residents said they believed that the majority of Township Council only wanted a limited project providing additional parking and a Main Street for the township.
They suggested the mayor start with those features and then move on with a larger plan for the redevelopment area.
”Do it first, to get the political stamp of approval,” resident Joyce Shin said.
Mayor Hsueh and even some audience members questioned the viability of a limited approach to the project, maintaining the redevelopment process would provide the amenities desired by residents.
”With redevelopment we can get the developers to chip in, and build parking garages so residents can continue to park cheaply,” Mayor Hsueh said.
Some residents asked the mayor about what had slowed the whole process down, but other community members gave their own opinion as to what had bogged down redevelopment.
Resident Jennifer McCloud said that the new Township Council had stopped the process, after coming into office on July 1.
”For those who have not been involved, the whole process stopped with the three new council members,” said Ms. McCloud. “It isn’t the mayor’s fault.”
Resident Richard Eland wanted to know when the process would get going again.
”When do you envision all of the parties sitting down together,” asked Mr. Eiland.
Despite sounding pessimistic at certain points over the last months, the mayor told those at the town hall meeting that he was ready to work with the Township Council members. The council recently took over redevelopment-planning duties after the Planning Board declined to take on the task.
”I am ready at any time,” said Mayor Hsueh. “As soon as council gets together and says what they want, I am ready to jump in.”
Prior to the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, the mayor told the audience about several of the larger projects going on around West Windsor, along with some township accomplishments in 2007.
Those projects that got speaking time included the Alexander Road bridge project, the dredging of Grovers Mill Pond, improvements to the Alexander Road s-curve and the straightening of a sharp turn on Meadow Road.
”There have been many fatal accidents there,” said Mayor Hsueh, of the s-curve. “This summer we will modify the s-curve.”
Referring to the Alexander Road bridge project, the mayor apologized to residents living in the area who were subjected to some loud night work, involving the driving of piles deep into the ground to eventually be used as support for the new span, set to open in 2009.
”We really had no choice,” said Mayor Hsueh, who told audience members he was awakened one night by the hammering. “It was a DOT project.”
Of planned improvements to Meadow Road, there will be both a straightening of the sharp 90-degree turn located on the approach to Route 1, along with the addition of a traffic light at the roadway’s intersection with Clarksville Road, according to the mayor.
The mayor renewed a promise to stay on top of the expansion of the township’s Senior Center. The project was broken up into phases months ago after bids came in over-budget.
On the financial front, the mayor lauded the township staff for the achievement of an AAA bond rating, which only a handful of New Jersey municipalities boast.
”We should all be very proud of that, and that comes because of good management and organization,” Mayor Hsueh said.
The mayor’s state of the township address will be held Feb. 25 at the regularly scheduled Township Council meeting.
