School Board Members Tour Middlebush School Mindel Sues
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Warriors topple You're never too old South Plainfield. You may qualify to learn at Franklin's for home repair funds. adult school. See page 4A. Complete local sports coverage, See page 2A. pages 11-12A. The Franklin NEWS RECORD Sacond •torn frtrmn MJ Thursday, February 4,1982 Vol. 30. No. 5 30 cents Mindel sues Franklin over shop center by Cathy Bugman In 1975, Dr. Mindel was granted, a Special Writer state farmers assessment which allowed1 him to claim substantial tax benefits. Dr. Leo Mindel has appealed Franklin Consequently, three years later the Township's rejection of his proposed Township Council composed an or- neighborhood shopping center to Some- dinance prohibiting Dr. Mindel from rville Superior Court. tanning his land and forcing him to A variance for the center suggested for develop it. ajfesidential zone off Amwell Road in •t Middlebush section was denied by Superior Court Judge Michael R. lm- ^e Zoning Board of Adjustment a month briani ruled the town's zoning ordinance ago. unconstitutional, thus permitting Dr. The New Brunswick dentist charged Mindel to farm his land. in a suit filed Jan. 26 that the board Now, however. Dr. Mindel wants to deprived him of potential financial develop at least four acres of his tract. growth in rejecting a zoning variance for The four acres in question have a S2.1KK) the four-acre tract adjacent to the mu- farmland assessment value. nicipal complex. A date for the trial has not yet been Dr. Mindel's plan includes construc- set. ' . tion of a "neighborhood convenience center" of 10 to 15 shops and pro- fessional offices. The center's name would be Franklin Orchards. A bank, located at the westerly end of the Salzman proposed L-shaped structure, would be housed in the complex along with a drug store and tailor shop. resigns The Board of Adjustment, howevei. ARCHITECT Clfftord Marchion reviews plans for renovation of the member Jan Lovatt, board president Michael Kaplan and school rejected the entire plan, maintaining the \. MkJdlebush School to an administrative facility with school board superintendent Ronald Whyte Monday night. proposed 34,217 square-foot structure (Andrea Kane photo) does, not comply with the residential nature of the surrounding areas. School bd. Last year, a group of Middlebush residents circulated a petition voicing by Lois Cody concern that the facility would increase Special Writer traffic, create excessive noise, air pollu- tion, and lessen the value of surrounding Veteran Franklin Township Board of School board members homes. Education member Janet Salzman an- nounced her resignation Monday night in DR. MINDEL said his move to a letter that board president Michael appeal the board's refusal to grant him a Kaplan read to the members gathered for use varianceJs "the most logical step to a conference session. tour Middlebush School take." ( Mrs. Salzman cited her New Brunswick's Mayor John Lynch, responsivilities as executive director of Dr. Mindel's attorney in the suit, in- the Franklin Chamber of Commerce as bv Lots Cody Education closed the doors to clasroom doors and hardware. costly to install in public buildings dicated the case faces "considerable the reason for her departure. "The many use after deciding that the school was today. local political overtones" which makes responsibilities I have as executive direc- Special Writer In addition, repairs will be made to the obsolete. Middlebush became an issue A few members who had attended the the situation more difficult. tor requires my presence during the day Footsteps and the glare ot" floure-scent door panes of glass still shattered from again last spring when the board was school as children and sent their own This is not the first time township and in the evening," she said. lights filled the corridors briefly when an attack of vandalism 1 '/• years ago that divided on the wisdom of ending instruc- children there in turn, were a little officials have contended with the issue She expressed deep regret at leaving Middkbush School opened its doors to left S8.000 worth of damage. her post, but explained, "Because I tion there, A final vote reinstated the nostalgic about the end of the building"s of how to make use of the residentially Franklin Township Board of Educatum don't want to give Jess than 100 percent. members Monday night closing however. The board members were impressed life as a grammar school. zoned tract. The board followed blueprints as they Three years ago, the Board of Adjust- I have no choice but to step down."' The occasion was a tour of the vacant with the basic soundness of the building A pile of "Middlebush School" Mrs. Salzman has been on the board walked with Mr. Marchion through the ment granted Dr. Mindel the right to facility ted by Clifford Marchion. that was constructed in 1927. They beanies unearthed on the tour was for five years and served as its president classrooms that will be partitioned into farm his 13-acre property. expressed admiration for the hardwood divided among the alumni and carried for one year. Her position with the architect from a Pnnceton-hased firm. business offices, conference rooms and a The Township Council, however, sug- Uniplan. that ha.s drawn plans to convert floors and high ceilings that arc too home as souvenirs of the past. Chamber of Commerce began last computer center, if the plan is adopted. gested the land be developed and the month. the school's empty clA«room> into ad- "We just want to walk through and sec - proposed structure should include the ministrative office tfiacc Mrs. Salzman said she was vcr> what"* here."' Board of Education Presi- costly water and sewerage facilities in- interested in keeping in touch with the ' For SI50.000. 14 offices will be dent Michael Kaplan commented. Residents to fight stalled nearby. youth of the community and looked created to house the *:hool district"*, live The council proclaimed the acreage forward to working with youth projects admirustraiors and staff of 13 If a . THE PLAN will include the con- could be transformed into a potential that the Chamber might undertake. second project ts .undertaken in the version of the auditorium into a com- building site and be compatible with the . Her resignation leaves a two-year future, all the tfafj and supervisors munity room for public meetings. Other new townhouses residential character of the surrounding vacancy on the board that will be filled currently located at t Railaxwl Ave . improvements entail providing access neighborhood. during the spring election. would move into Middlebush School for the handicapped, revamping lighting by David Hill the applicant had not proved that this It's three" sears since the Board of and electrical systems and replacing 28 Staff Writer was the most appropriate site on which A handful of families from the John E. to build the housing in Franklin Town- Busch Avenue. 9th and Culvert street ship. Inside this week area met Monday night and agreed to The residents have submitted a S50 appeal the use variance granted the deposit to gain a 35-day extension on an <m off 280-unit Lake wood Townhouse de- appeal deadline. Township ordinance Index velopment by The Franklin Township requires that a transcript of the four In this week's issue: Girard Avenue zoning board meetings be submitted to Zoning Board of Adjustment. business guide 9A • February is Black History the township council in order to appeal Robert P. Cyr of John E. Busch Month, and from Newark to the decision. classified 1-18B presented a letter on Jan. 28 to Franklin learning 4-6A. Trenton, events celebrating Township Council formally requesting THE APPEAL will cost an estimated the arts and heritage of blacks that they overrule the zoning board "in $2,000. according to a zoning board letters 15A have been planned. See page will be paved the best interest of the citizens and staff member. Mr. Cyr expects an exact obituaries 9A 3. dollar figure by Friday. taxpayers of Franklin." police blotter .2A bj Sandra Lowich Council members originally had re- Mr. Cyr wrote that "The applicant The group then will have the re- Masagiag Editor jected funding the road work that the had under-estimated the number of mainder of the 35 days to decide whether sports...... 11-12A residents sought, saying that the cost was school children who will be generated by they will raise this amount. town forum..... 14A Gtrard Avenue residents, united, suc- too prohibitive. the townhouses. The semi-rural The zoning board^meeting on Jan. 14 weekly recipe 15A cessfully have paved the way for im- However, the neighbors worked neighborhood would attract more was packed with 30 visitors when the provements to their road. together to alleviate some of the drainage families with children. This would be a decision was reached. The immediate reaction of the neighbors was pointed * * * Towtofeip Council last Thursday voted problems they had—by installing gutters drain on taxes and school facilities." < and boisterous. One resident said that the to spend a maximum of $12,000 to pave and fitting in road depressions. They The variance should have been denied board had "broken a covenant between lac gravel and stone road from cast of paid for the work out of their own because the applicant did not prove the itself and the people who had bought the pockets. existence of a hardship which would See page 25 of Time Off. Etamood Street to the dead-end. Work neighboring land under the impression prevent use of the property as zoned, the PAUL MURRAY, a Hill- is expected to begin this spring.