Council May Release Otken Funds Monday
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Exotic bridal bash South Brunswick business caters to Indian patrons and gives residents a different taste Page 36 SentineServing North and South Brunswick l May 30, 2003 www.gmnews.com Your Local Connection 50ti Voh 10, Number 34. Council may release Otken funds Monday Another hearing battle, Superior Court Judge withholding $500,000 of the James Hurley, sitting in New funds set aside for back rent looms in No. Brims. Brunswick, granted the con- and to complete a Phase II condemnation case demnation in January 2002. environmental evaluation of An Appellate Court ruling the property. BY |ENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer in March upheld the township's The Township Council also right to purchase the farm off will vote on a resolution orth Brunswick officials Route 130. Monday authorizing engineer- are expected to decide On Friday, the Otken fami- ing firm CME Associates, in NMonday how much ly's attorney, Lawrence Sachs, the Parlin section of Sayreville, money the Otken family will be filed a motion in Superior to provide the phase II land paid for their farm — for now. Court demanding that the evaluation services. "If they [the Otken family] township release all of the The phase II evaluation will reject any amount of funds, let funds. cost the township $12,000 and it ride," Councilman Robert "If they're not going to will provide the township with, Corbin said at the Township accept, with interest, over $6 the next level of environmental Council workshop meeting this million, maybe we should let it clearances, according to Tom past Monday night. ride," Mayor David Spaulding Vigna, director of community Corbin's comment came as said. development. the Otken family decided to The council is scheduled to Officials agreed they want reject an offer the township vote on releasing the funds on to have the phase II evaluation made last week to release 92 Monday. before the July 26 hearing. percent of the $6 million set "The land is ours; now it is "That underground storage aside to purchase the family's just a matter of price," council might really affect the value of condemned land. Vice President Carlo Socio the property," Corbin said. The township, seeking open said. During phase II, CME will space, moved to take the land Both parties will meet in evaluate the possible under- by eminent domain in 2001, front of three court-appointed ground-storage tanks on the offering $6 million for the 105- condemnation commissioners property, the three above- during a hearing July 26 to acre farm. ground storage piles, and any The Otken family has said establish the property's value. "I believe you have to release hazardous waste materials on they had a contract with U.S. the property, Lombard said. Home, Freehold, which was some of the funds," Township prepared to pay $10 million for Business Administrator Robert Lombard also urged offi- Lombard said. "If not, you will cials to vote on Monday to the tract. U.S. Home wanted to JEFF GRANIT build senior housing on the have to file something to oppose authorize a workable relocation assistance plan (WRAP) for the Marilon Gilliland, auxiliary president of the Leigh Pardun Post, takes property. their motion," part in the memorial service for war veterans of North Brunswick Following a lengthy court Lombard recommended Continued on page 30 Township held last Friday morning at Veterans Park. Index Business 36 Planners disapprove of border zoning change Classified ......39 Milestones .32 Obituaries .33 S.B. council to make Charles Carley voted for the According to Planning Board, and Jean Dvorak of Deans Opinion 24 change. Director Craig Marshall, a quo- Rhode Hall Road in South Police Beat .34 final decision in July The 150 acres at the intersec- rum was not present at that meet- Brunswick, appealed the Zoning Sports 35 tion are currently zoned rural res- ing when the matter was to be dis- Board's decision and are trying to BY CHARLES W. KIM idential (RR). That zone would cussed, and it was rescheduled to stop the rezoning through litiga- Quote of the week: Staff Writer change to light industrial/rural be heard at last week's meeting. tion in state Superior Court. Their "You have to believe that these he South Brunswick residential (LI/RR) if the zoning The township's Zoning Board appeal to the Township Council officers have the ability to use Planning Board does not change is approved by the had granted K&K Developers a last July resulted in the council discretion, or they would not T support a change in zoning Township Council. variance to build 1.9 million upholding the Zoning Board's have gotten to those po- on the township's border with The council tabled a final vote square feet of warehouse space at sitions." decision. East Brunswick. on the change last week to wait the site in March 2002. K&K was The East Brunswick Township Chris Killmurray Board members voted 6-2 May for the township planner's deci- also granted permission to build Council passed a resolution May South. Brunswick 21 not to recommend a change in sion. 300,000 square feet of office 12 to oppose the rezoning, and Township councilman zoning at the intersection of An ordinance for the change space. several residents from that com- Page 5 Dunhams Corner Road and was introduced April 15 and was Two residents, Richard munity attended both the council Cranbury-South River Road, first scheduled for a hearing in front Walling, who is also a member of and Planning Board meetings last Visit Greater Media Newspapers' Web site www.gmnews.com Members Bob South wick and of the Planning Board May 7. the East Brunswick Zoning Continued on page 30 2 SENTINEL, MAY 30, 2003 NS ATTENTION NORTH BRUNSWICK RESIDENTS! The Reform Democrats Sharoy/Mataeera/Puleio « Reduced water rates m Signed old water contract which # Stabilized Municipal Tax rate caused rates to skyrocket (only up 1 penny in three years!) m Exorbitant tax increases # Working to stop overdevelopment (up 56% in just one year!) (successfully stopped 600,000 square feet of retail development m Responsible for overdeveloping at old traffic Circle) town (accepting tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from « Restored Civility to Municipal Government m Fiscal Mismanagement resulted In years of turmoil On Primary Day June 3rd - Help Make sure that we never go back to the Sharny/Matacera/Pulelo Years VOTE FOR THE WOMACK TEAM! l Paid for by the Election Fund of Socfo and Lyles - C. Zangara, Treasurer NS SENTINEL, MAY 30, 2003 3 ;: /..••;•/,-.,/. Decision 2003 , • Democratic candidates talk issues before vote Shamy and Womack office, they are on establishing open space and minimize development. talking to the peo- "Buddy Ball," a "Township development should only prepare for Tuesday's ple making the township program occur after a full public hearing and an primary decision decisions. that enables emo- informed township decision," he said. "We Members of the tionally, physical- have enough development and any future BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP old organization ly, or mentally projects should be those that benefit the Staff Writer have to check with challenged chil- entire town." organization lead- dren the opportu- NORTH BRUNSWICK — Gearing up ership before tak- nity to learn how Womack said he is a proponent of for Tuesday's Democratic primary, the two ing any action." to play soccer maintaining stable tax rates without any candidates discussed their similarities and with a buddy. loss of essential municipal services. differences. Shamy said he envisions a better Shamy's As a Reform Democrat, Womack said On June 3, the North Brunswick North Brunswick involvement in his main concern is to keep the people in Democratic Organization's candidate, with fiscal the community control of the government. George Shamy, will vie for the mayoral Francis "Mac" George Shamy responsibility, Womack ranges from fund- "Township discussions should all be nomination against Reform Democrat more open space, raising for the made in an open process that a democracy Francis "Mac" Womack in the Democratic Society and the like ours requires for it to work," Womack primary. less development and a new library/com- American Cancer munity center. Middlesex County College Fund to serving said. "Carlo and I had the courage to take a Both were asked what they perceived to "In the last three years, the township on the Township Council from 1997 to stand and to be independent so that we are be the difference, if any, between the North has used almost $3 million in surplus," 1999. accountable. We will be responsive to the Brunswick - Democratic Organization's Shamy said. "With the surplus diminishing Both candidates agreed on stopping people and not have to answer to or blame candidates and the Reform Democratic and less state aid in the upcoming years, I any organization for our decisions." candidates. development and preserving open space. want to reduce the out-of-control spend- "When I was a kid taking a ride through Womack, a lawyer, resides in North "I don't see reform candidates, I see ing." Brunswick with his wife, Carol, and his candidates who have adhered to that label North Brunswick on a Sunday morning, I To develop a new library/community was driving through the country," Shamy three children, Allison, 18, Carol Leigh, simply because they were not the candi- center, Shamy proposed using grants and 14, and Macky, 11. dates chosen by the North Brunswick said. "Our town has almost completely lost private funding to avoid any cost to tax- its rural charm." Womack said he enjoyed serving as a Democratic Organization," Shamy said.