By Christina Whittington, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — The Township has received a new grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
”We are excited and grateful,” said Mayor Janice Mironov at the East Windsor Township Council meeting on July 24.
The $100,000 grant is for a New Jersey Turnpike transportation study at Exit 8.
Mayor Mironov said that the council had applied for grant to “undertake a study of circulation and potential development in the New Jersey Turnpike area of the town.”
”This is an exciting opportunity and it’s a great way to position the township beneficially for commercial development in that area,” Mayor Mironov said.
The area to be studied by this initiative includes the commercial area west of Twin Rivers, bordered by Lake Drive, Milford Road, Etra Road, Cranbury Station Road and Monmouth Street.
Mayor Mironov said, “It’s an area of the town that has tremendous potential. The widening of the turnpike has really elevated the value of property in that area and really opens up some great commercial development opportunities for East Windsor.”
She said, “The town received five proposals to perform the study and we will be moving forward to meet with and perform interviews with each of the firms.”
She said, “The target is to be able to have a consultant on board by September.”
Mayor Mironov announced that she has named a committee that will facilitate and coordinate the study.
”Tonight I want to announce the committee that I am forming to conduct and help facilitate and coordinate the study, and choose the consultant, as well as work with the consultant and any other groups or professionals undertaking the study,” she said.
The committee will consist of council members Mayor Mironov, Deputy Mayor Perry Shapiro and Councilman John Zoller.
Members of the East Windsor Planning Board and Economic Development Committee were also named, including Ed Kelly, chairman of the Planning Board; and Barry Clark, Planning Board member; Michael Henderson, chairman of the Economic Development Committee; and George White, Economic Development Committee member.
Additionally, Steve Misiura, chairman of the Hightstown Planning Board, was named to the committee. Fred Montferrat, vice chair of the Hightstown Planning Board, was named by Mayor Mironov to be Mr. Misiura’s alternate.
”We worked with them very well on a prior study and even though (Hightstown was) not a partner in the application, the immediate area is obviously in East Windsor, obviously there are implications for the borough,” Mayor Mironov said. “Both individuals, I think, worked very, very well with us in a prior study and so we included them on this project as well.”
Mayor Mironov also indicated that due to the result of the Turnpike widening project and the relocation of Interchange 8, there will be surplus property that will be available once vacated by the Turnpike Authority.
Noteworthy, this is the second $ 100,000 grant East Windsor Township has received from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
As previously reported by the Herald, East Windsor Township recently utilized a $100,000 grant from the DVRPC for transportation and community development to review current zoning and existing uses along Route 33, from Route 130 in East Windsor to Summit Street in Hightstown Borough. Particular attention was put to the 38-acre former Minute Maid property, which includes 21 acres in East Windsor Township and 16 acres are in Hightstown Borough. The former plant sits in Hightstown.
The study was to determine the most appropriate uses and zone changes to enhance development and redevelopment of the area.
In other news, the Township Council passed Resolution 2012-163 to purchase the replacement of self contained breathing apparatus and related equipment for East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 from Municipal Emergency Services Inc., of Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
”This purchase is off a national cooperative contract that we were able to access through a state purchasing bureau,” Mayor Mironov said.
Three written quotes were received for this purchase. The lowest quote came from Municipal Emergency Services.
According to the township, the total cost of these purchases before trade in adjustments came in at $180,981. After the trade in adjustment of $ 37,181.25, the final cost to the township is $143,800.
”I think it was a very well researched approach by the fire department,” Mayor Mironov said.
The mayor and council also discussed Senate Bill S2140 and Senate Bill A3218. Both bills provide that solar facilities and solar structures on farmland are not an inherently beneficial use.
According to Mayor Mironov, this is a widely held concern in New Jersey.
Senate Bill S2140 is sponsored by Democratic Senator Linda Greenstein. It provides that solar and photovoltaic energy and facilities on farmland are not an inherently beneficial use, per se, for purposes of zoning approvals.
Senate Bill A3218, which is sponsored by Republican Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, modifies the “inherently beneficial use” definition for purposes of zoning variance to discourage siting of wind and solar energy facilities on agricultural land and open space.
”Both bills have similar goals and seems like something we should familiarize ourselves with and consider taking a position on and encouraging that they move,” Mayor Mironov said. “I think that both bills accomplish the basic goal of removing solar arrays on farmland from the inherently beneficial definition.”
”I think we should send them out a notice of support on this,” Deputy Mayor Shapiro said.
”A resolution sends a strong message,” Councilman Peter Yeager said.
The council agreed to add the resolution to the next agenda.
”I think we should support both bills in the resolution. This also makes it bipartisan. It is always good to be bipartisan in your support,” Mayor Mironov said.
The next Township Council meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Aug. 7.

