READINGTON TWP. -- Both township officials and Thor Solberg, co-owner of Solberg Airport, said Thursday they want to continue negotiations over the airport's future.
Officials passed an ordinance Tuesday allowing them to borrow $22 million to buy the airport and surrounding land while the Solbergs maintain the airport.
"Our goals are common," Thor Solberg said. "So there is no reason a solution can't be worked out."
Township officials have said they don't want the airport to expand into a regional jetport and intrude on the community. Solberg denied Tuesday night that is his intention. However, he did not provide a clear answer on what his family sees as the airport's future.
Committeewoman Julia Allen said whether further negotiations can be successful is a "question of both of us being motivated to settle it amicably," which she believes is the case.
After a round of discussions that began in September and ended in January, the sides remained far apart on several points, most significantly runway length.
The township will not budge on keeping the main runway length to a maximum of 3,735 feet. Anything beyond that could accommodate medium-sized business jets and seriously intrude on the community, officials said.
Solberg maintained officials' real plan is to use eminent domain to acquire the property, though officials deny that is the case and say it is another step in the bargaining process.
Thursday, Solberg suggested the sides engage a third-party to facilitate future discussions.
"Obviously there has been some miscommunication between the parties," Solberg said. An objective party who acted like an "interpreter" or "facilitator" would foster more clear discussions, he said.
During Tuesday night's meeting, township Mayor Gerard Shamey said he is firmly opposed to bringing a mediator into the issue who would "split the difference."
During Tuesday's three-hour public comment session, passionate pleas on all facets of the issue were aired. Some residents opposed any increase in taxes to pay for the $22 million borrowing move. Others said they were willing to shoulder more of a cost than officials proposed.
The township hopes to recoup most of the cost through state and county funds, officials said.
According to township officials, using a long-term bond with anticipated Green Acres grants and state Environmental Infrastructure low-interest loans, a township homeowner with an assessed home value of $400,000 would pay an additional $60 a year in taxes to help shoulder the cost of buying the airport.
Under the "worst-case scenario," if no open space funding was available, that same homeowner would pay $55 a year for the first three-years on short-term notes, officials said. After that, the township would seek long-term bonds and the same homeowner would pay $165 a year.
Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.
© 2006 The Express-Times.
Date: February 24, 2006 Source: NJ.com
URL: http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1140763397316250.xml?expresstimes?nnj&coll=2
