Brad Fay, Montgomery Township Committee
When I started in town government three years ago, I was impressed by the degree to which the Township Committee functioned in a bipartisan manner.
Differences of opinion were usually worked out, and the end result was often excellent.
One example was the environmental clean-up near the Village School, which required balancing the need to improve health and safety for the whole community with the concerns of school parents about the timing and methods of the clean up. Members of both parties worked together, listened to residents and produced an excellent outcome.
The end of bipartisanship came one year ago this month when local Republicans used as a wedge issue the welcome interest of the county freeholder director in establishing a county park at Skillman Village. Soon after the election, Republican Committeeman Mark Caliguire proceeded to vote against an excellent affordable housing plan produced by staff, attorneys and consultants who have long worked for the town, most originally hired by Republicans. His rationale was a modest number of units designated for a corner of Skillman Village, which in no way impedes the creation of a park.
No member of our committee is happy about the state’s affordable housing policies, and the township is party to two lawsuits challenging the regulations. Still, we accepted the advice of our professionals and adopted our plan in order to be protected from “builder’s remedy” lawsuits, which could bust our zoning. The plan satisfies an original mandate for 501 affordable units with 274 units of which 77 are designated for township land on the edge of Skillman Village, mostly in existing historic buildings.
Now Mr. Caliguire is running a campaign for reelection that demonizes workforce housing designed to make it possible for our teachers, police officers, and service workers to live in or close to the communities they serve. He’s appealing to “not in my backyard” sentiments despite the real chance he may sabotage our housing plan and perhaps even the opportunity to get a county park on 90 percent of the property.
Mr. Caliguire does this despite knowing the developer of Pike Run has formally challenged our housing plan; if the developer wins, he stands to get 600 new units in Belle Mead and open the rest of the town to over 3,000 new homes, both affordable and market-rate. The impact of this on our taxes and on our way of life would be catastrophic. Why is Mr. Caliguire playing Russian roulette with our future?
Any doubt this is a purely partisan game played for political advantage was dispelled at our recent Township Committee meeting where the most assertive “public” comments came from the local Republican chairwoman and the immediate past chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party.
Skillman Village and Montgomery shouldn’t be used as toys in a partisan game. Too many people have worked too hard for too long to make this town a special place. It’s time to say “no” to mixing party politics with local land use policy.
Brad Fay
Township Committeeman
Montgomery
