PRINCETON: AvalonBay balking at more testing

AvalonBay is balking at the town’s insistence for additional environmental testing at the former Princeton hospital site where the company wants to build a residential development.

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
   AvalonBay is balking at the town’s insistence for additional environmental testing at the former Princeton hospital site where the company wants to build a residential development.
   Howeber, town officials said this week they would not budge from the requirement.
   ”I think that from my perspective that our experts are telling us certain testing protocol is recommended to protect the health and safety of our residents, and that we’re obligated to follow that advice,” Mayor Liz Lempert said Monday.
   She spoke to reporters ahead of the Princeton Council meeting Monday night in which the council was due to consider a developer’s agreement with AvalonBay.
   Ira Whitman, an environmental consultant the town hired, has recommended additional soil testing for heavy metals and other contaminants. But AvalonBay feels the request is more extensive than the company is willing to perform and not needed based on state requirements.
   AvalonBay Vice President Jon Vogel had no comment when contacted by email Monday. Company representatives were expected to attend the meeting.
   Mr. Vogel’s company needs the developer’s agreement to be approved to move forward with its 280-unit redevelopment of the former hospital site. The council meeting, which Mr. Whitman was due to attend, took place after press time.
   Town administrator Robert W. Bruschi, appearing with Mayor Lempert at her press conference, said the town needed to rely upon what Mr. Whitman was telling officials.
   ”We think that we have to take reasonable steps to protect the residents and make sure that the process is done correctly,” he said.
   Asked if AvalonBay’s refusal to go along with the additional testing was a deal breaker, Mayor Lempert replied: “We’ll find out.”
   Mr. Bruschi raised the prospect that AvalonBay could go to court to challenge the town.
   ”So if there is a court proceeding, we have an expert that we’ve employed in which to give us this advice,” he said.
   Mayor Lempert said earlier that municipal staff has not approved AvalonBay’s demolition plan.
   ”It’s contingent upon the developer’s agreement,” she said.
   She was confident in municipal staff in monitoring a project of this scope, even with other major projects on the town’s plate.
   ”And I think that one of the things that makes them great is they know when they should call in outside help too,” Mayor Lempert said. “And so I think between our regular professional help and the experts that we will hire to help us that I do think we are acting completely responsibly and in the public’s interest.”
   Mr. Bruschi said the town would have a “significant” staff presence during the demolition phase, especially from Mr. Whitman’s firm. The reason, he said, is so the town “is comfortable that they’re doing what they need to do.”
   Mr. Bruschi, elaborating on what he meant by significant, said that could be one person or more “depending on where they are in the process.”