By Frank Mustac, Contributor
A preliminary investigation into whether several properties in the borough can be designated as an “area in need of redevelopment” seems to have at least some homeowners questioning why their properties were selected for the review process.
During the Hopewell Borough Planning Board meeting on Sept. 7, at least one business owner expressed concerns that redevelopment might mean the municipality could take his land by way of eminent domain condemnation.
John Mastroianni, whose company purchased the Castoro GMC and Trucks site, said he sees the process as a “blank check” for the borough.
“We have no idea what redevelopment is,” Mr. Mastroianni said.
Borough officials, however, have already ruled out condemnation, stating that the redevelopment process does not allow the municipality to invoke eminent domain to acquire properties.
“There really is no downside to being (designated) an area in need of redevelopment,” Frank Banisch, professional planner for Hopewell Borough, said.
A preliminary investigation draft report prepared by Mr. Banisch lists the properties under review as possibly qualifying for redevelopment. The properties are divided into three areas.
Area A includes properties fronting on Railroad Place and Somerset Street.
Area B includes three parcels in common ownership with frontage on East Broad Street, Maple Street and Columbia Avenue.
Area C includes the Van Doren Lumber Yard, also oriented toward the railroad, according to the report.
Designating an area in need of redevelopment, as stipulated under the state’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, can provide incentives for landowners to update buildings and facilities on their properties if those properties meet certain requirements.
Some of the requirements are that buildings on a property be in a state of disrepair; facilities on those properties are old and out of date; and buildings and other structures on a property have been destroyed by fire or other natural calamities.
The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law also provides a mechanism by which zoning can be changed for particular properties.
Through the preliminary investigation is ongoing, Hopewell Borough is looking see whether parcels match the criteria as stipulated in the state’s redevelopment law.
When redevelopment first being considered by the borough last year, Hopewell Borough Mayor Paul Anzano said that he envisioned a collaborative effort between property owners and borough officials to update “underutilized” land and buildings.
Rick Castaneda, a local business owner, suggested that the municipality should have talked to property owners first before starting the redevelopment process.
“You guys are doing this in a vacuum,” he said.
Christopher DeGrezia, attorney for the Planning Board, explained that the law requires the municipality to formally designate an area in need of redevelopment first, before any planning can take place.
“It’s a statutory process that we have to follow,” Mr. DeGrezia said.
In an open letter to Hopewell Borough residents and businesses regarding redevelopment published back in May, officials said that it was “important to note that no specific redevelopment plans have yet been discussed,” since no properties had been designated for redevelopment at that time.
However, even if a property is officially selected as part of an area in need of redevelopment, the owner is not required to redevelopment or update the property.
“That’s up to the owner,” said Planning Board Chairwoman Jacqueline Perri, who also said that the process as stipulated in state law to designate an area in need of redevelopment is “hard to understand.”
