By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — A longtime dispute between JEM Stables and its Windsor Road neighbor Richard Cruser may be approaching a resolution.
In an Oct. 30 court appearance, JEM attorney Patricia Ratner and Township Attorney Mark Roselli worked on an agreement between the stables and Robbinsville, Ms. Ratner said.
The debate flared up again this year when a cease-and-desist letter delivered by the township May 16 prevented riders from using JEM’s outdoor riding ring, located in Robbinsville along with about half of the stables’ property. The other half is located in West Windsor.
Mr. Cruser has complained about flooding and manure runoff from the farm showing up in his yard and well. He has been involved in the negotiation process, according to Ms. Ratner.
The two sides met July 3 and went over three possible options for the stables’ future, which ranged from making changes to the property’s layout to a wholesale buyout by the township. Ms. Ratner said one of those options is the subject of the current discussion, with some modifications, and has also said she believes JEM and the township will be able to work something out.
In the current proposal, the township would purchase development rights of the Robbinsville portion of land for $200,000, up $50,000 from the earlier version, because, Ms. Ratner said, “it just wasn’t doable for $150,000.”
JEM would move its outdoor riding ring back farther than was previously discussed, and would also seek a use variance from the zoning board.
Ms. Ratner said Mr. Cruser is involved in the process, and will in fact be required to sign off on the agreement, which she called “a very good idea.”
Neither Mr. Cruser nor Mr. Roselli responded to messages for comment by The Messenger-Press’ deadline.
The earlier version of the option called for JEM to resolve drainage issues by creating a 20-foot swale. But Ms. Ratner said Monday the plan has changed and now calls for the stables to move its paddocks back and plant hay in front of the property, although she noted that would have to be done in a different time of year.
”We agreed to move other horses away from Mr. Cruser’s property line to be conciliatory,” she added.
The stable’s riding academy is still open, Ms. Ratner said, although with some limitations — the outside riding ring can only have so many riders at once, and riding must end by 9 p.m. JEM is in the process of making inquiries about moving the riding ring and paddocks.
Should the two sides not come to an agreement by Dec. 2, Ms. Ratner said, Robbinsville Township Municipal Court Judge Anthony M. Massi will decide whether the township has jurisdiction over the case, or if it should instead go before the Mercer Agricultural Development Board, a part of the state Department of Agriculture.
The ruling has seen delays before, which were meant to allow JEM and the township time to work out a mutual agreement.
JEM Stables has spoken several times with Mayor Dave Fried, whom both sides have credited with moving the process along.
The township has been issuing summonses to JEM for over a decade, most recently in mid-fall of last year and again in February. A cease-and-desist order was issued May 16, which previously kept riders to the indoor ring, which is located in West Windsor.
Those riding in the outdoor ring at that time attracted a police response, including a “ride-in” protest held by JEM’s riders June 11.

