By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — If the township has its way, a wooded area behind Windsor Plaza, locally known as Acme Woods, will never see another tree fall or house any new developments.
Township officials are negotiating with Cyzner Properties to buy the 5.3-acre parcel along Alexander Road for preservation by using open space funds. The negotiations sparked a couple of months ago when concerned residents saw Cyzner clearing trees from the land and created a petition to save the woods from further harm.
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said the zoning for the property, which belongs to Cyzner, allows the developer to replace some of the woods with structures such as a single-family home or daycare center. However, officials and supporters of the petition, which has garnered 152 signatures to date, want to keep the woods as a natural shield between residents and the business district.
”We feel this property is for the township to preserve and be used to separate the residents from the commercial area and maintain their quality of life,” said Mayor Hsueh. “We also want to preserve the original character of the neighboring residential community.”
After confirming the property did not already belong to the township, officials began negotiating with Cyzner to buy it before the developer took down any more trees.
Mayor Hsueh said they were mostly cutting down trees that had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy, but that not too much damage was incurred. As negotiations go on, Cyzner agreed to cease taking down any more trees or other vegetation.
”We came in just in time to ask him to stop,” added Mayor Hsueh.
Princeton Packet reached out to Cyzner multiple times via phone and email for comment, but did not get a response.
Currently, assessors from both the township and Cyzner are evaluating the property to come up with prices, which could take about a month. Once the assessments are done, both parties will sit down and negotiate a final price.
However, Mayor Hsueh appeared intent on acquiring the land regardless of price.
”We’re definitely going to buy it, but the process is ongoing,” he added.
If purchased, he said more indigenous species of trees would be planted to replace the ones that had been cut down. He was hopeful to close the deal in time for the November planting season.
