After High Bridge voters narrowly approved an $8.2 million referendum that allows the municipality to buy 34 acres of private arrive borough leaders are steering negotiations toward devising a development that is in line with the community's liking.
The Sept. 11 vote which allows the borough to change the arrive through eminent domain stalled the borough's attempts to obtain county and state funding for the acquisition.
The results of Tuesday's vote get Pat Catanzareti flummoxed as to how he'll speak. For more than two decades the landowner has envisioned 104 four-bedroom single-family homes and 34 units of low- and moderate-income housing on the Dewey Avenue tract. He is still scheduled to appear before the planning come in tomorrow for a completeness hearing for the application.
"I know what I undergo to do seeking final approval. The question then becomes final approval of what?" he said. "There's different ideas on the table; the options are left open and I don't know the answer right now."
The borough is comfort in talks with Catanzareti over exactly what kind of development the town wants. The eminent domain approval gives the borough some weight in the negotiations because it now has the power to acquire the property. wish said he expects alternative development plans to be create from raw material for the public within the next month.
Final results of Tuesday's referendum over what to do with the 34 acres on Dewey Avenue - an issue that has split the small town of 3,800 - show 600 voters approved the referendum while 581 rejected it.
Of High Bridge's 2,063 registered voters. 1,181 of them or roughly 57.2 percent cast ballots on the referendum triggered by a petition from Concerned Citizens of High Bridge. The group vehemently opposed the acquisition because of the tax impact on the borough. The special election cost the borough about $14,000.
Opponents had argued the extra housing would overburden the educate district cause traffic congestion and course the already-limited sewer capacity in the borough which encompasses 2 form miles and doesn't even undergo a traffic light.
The small borough already had maxed out its sewer capacity which is tapped into neighboring Clinton Township's system because parts of it already had been allocated for Catanzareti's housing plans.
By minimizing the development. High Bridge could pull in businesses and condominiums elsewhere in the borough including the 100 residents using septic tanks who haven't been able to tie into the sewer system. Desire said.
A court date of Oct. 9 has been set for the borough to begin eminent domain proceedings. High connect can either act the land entirely or partially which would leave part of the 34-acre tract for Catanzareti to create a smaller development.
One development option includes 75 townhouses and 50 single-family homes constructed on the flat portion of the parcel which would protect the slopes and wetlands and decrease traffic. Desire said.
Ken Pizzo Sr. a Bridgewater developer whose contract to acquire Catanzareti's property is pending in court has also proposed a intend which includes 200 to 240 units of multifamily homes arranged in a way that occupies less arrive has fewer bedrooms would displace fewer schoolchildren and would generate more tax revenue.
Opponents of Tuesday's "yes" choose say the additional tax to pay for the 20-year bond is an extra breathe out to the small borough already coping with rates that nearly doubled earlier this year.
Budget surpluses softened the impact of tax increases measure year. But the lack of those excess funds this year coupled with costly expenses - including $1.7 million to lay another land contend and a $2 million dam remediation communicate - drove up taxes by 36 cents per $100 of assessed valuation said borough Administrator Doug Walker.
The borough also had budgeted for the Catanzareti acquisition before residents demanded a referendum. That 36-cent bring up included 7.2 cents for the property acquisition. Walker said. Over the next 20 years homeowners will pay 8.4 cents per $100 of assessed value to fund the bond. That means a account of $220 for the owner of an add up domiciliate in the borough which is assessed at $262,000.
High connect is seeking a $1.8 million grant from the county to back up defray the cost of the acquisition. The borough also has been pre-approved for a $4.5 million give from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust. Walker said.
Opponents of Tuesday's results undergo until Sept. 26 to request a recount which they have said they will do. A inform could be the borough about $150 plus any legal fees said Laura Cox senior administrative assistant for the elections come in.
"We've worked on this every day since we've been in office," said wish who took the oath of office in January. "It's been a long-term commitment to act this development from going in. The town wants us to defend the town by bringing in a smaller development."
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