By James “Jay” Taylor
Last week, I wrote a letter extolling the benefits that Cranbury receives from the volunteers in our community. Following that letter, I wanted to highlight the impact that all of our residents have on defining Township decisions and actions.
I think most residents would not be shocked to know that most Township Committee meetings usually have one or two residents from the public in attendance. At budget time when we go through the thrilling exercise of reviewing the finances on a line by line basis, the only residents attending are those who accidentally stumble into the meeting room while looking for the Art Gallery. Upon realizing their mistake, they inevitably run for the exit as though they stumbled into a high-pressure time share seminar.
However, our town is the way it is because of resident input. The more input we on the governing body receive, the better decisions we can make on the outcomes for all involved.
I raise this issue today because I want to applaud the resident participation we received at Monday night’s Township Committee meeting and the help it provided when considering the redevelopment ordinance for the Hagerty, Cheney, Kushner property.
On Monday evening the Township had before it a redevelopment ordinance that would allow the site at the corner of Old Trenton Road and South Main Street to be redeveloped into a mixed use zone consisting of townhomes, apartments and retail space. The ordinance was referred to us by the planning board after a number of public meetings combined with careful study and review.
There were a number of residents in the audience on Monday to hear the reading and offer input. At the meeting we heard about concerns due to traffic and how those concerns might be mitigated to the benefit of the surrounding community.
Through residents raising ideas such as signs limiting truck traffic to deliveries only or excluding turns onto Labaw during certain hours, these residents brought forth excellent ideas that the Township Committee will now discuss.
The residents’ participation enacted change and added valuable input into the decision.
I would encourage all residents to read the agendas for the Township Committee meetings along with all of our other boards and commissions. Your voice is important and the more information we have when considering an action the more educated our decision will be.
Lastly, I want to wish everyone a very happy Halloween on Saturday. Please remember that the curfew is 9 p.m. and that we do not allow mischief night in Cranbury.
