North Brunswick Township Council to Attend Franklin Township Council Meeting Feb. 8
I attended the NB Township Council meeting to ask them to attend the Franklin Township meeting on Feb. 8. It is my hope that the presence of the majority of the NB Council would say something to the Council of Franklin. However, it seems that the members of the Franklin Council have already made up their minds about the project.
This opinion was formed based upon the agenda published on the Franklin Township website that the FT Council is only allowing a 30 min. public comment, with speakers limited to 2 mins. I guess the Council hasn't had enough conflict at these meetings and really wants to start a riot..... At the Feb. 1 Planning Board meeting, Mr. Roberts tried that ploy and he was shot down. Or maybe the Council wants to hit their pillows at 11 pm Wednesday night. Knowing what we all know, they must need the sleep as I don't see how they are sleeping well at night. Or maybe they are naive enough to think that we've all given up and we'll be staying home. I think that the Franklin Township Council has another thing coming.
As for the North Brunswick Council, last night was the first time that the Bennetts Lane project was discussed publicly at a Council meeting. What were they waiting for, anyway? Carlo Socio told me after the meeting that this was the first he's hearing about the issue! Omigawd - pleazzzze!
Mayor Womack said that he has been talking to Mayor Levine about the issue, however, given Mayor Levine's position on the Bennetts project vs. the rest of the Council, I don't see how this could have been constructive. I was asked by Mayor Womack as to whether I could provide insight into how the problem could be resolved. I would have thought that the talks with Mayor Levine would have given some insight to that already.
Mayor Levine from Franklin did come and speak also. Discussed was the possibility of NB trading COAH credits with Franklin as NB has a surplus; however, Franklin isn't designated to trade their credits to other towns. Our own COAH expert, Rhonda Lyles, was trying to get her head around the figures. If our own expert can’t figure it out, then I think we’re doomed in trying this approach. I had suggested that we could oppose this plan based upon the environmental issues and traffic, but this is a weak case. I think that if someone can figure out how Franklin can get rid of these credits, they would be designated a saint in the eyes of everyone involved. Anyone – is there anyone who understands this stuff?
Like I've said before, this project has been treated like a big, fat secret, and the residents of Brunswick Knolls and the other neighborhoods lining the Route 27 corridor are going to suffer due to the inaction of the people who represent our interests, as well as those Franklin residents who live in the Bennetts Lane/Veronica Avenue area. If NB knew about this for two months, then why didn’t the NB Council fight more aggressively in the first place? Anyone want to take a guess?