READINGTON TWP. | Township voters will hit the polls Tuesday to decide a controversial $22 million bond ordinance regarding the Solberg airport.

Officials want to borrow the money for a potential purchase of the airport’s development rights and 625 acres of surrounding open space. But the Solberg family, which owns the airport, opposes what it views as the start of an eminent domain seizure.

The Solbergs maintain the land is not for sale.

Officials approved the ordinance in February, but airport supporters forced it onto a legally binding public ballot.

If the township receives the Green Acres and other funding it expects, a resident whose home is assessed at $400,000 could expect to pay an additional $60 a year in property taxes. Without any funding, that resident could expect to pay $55 per year for three years and $165 per year for 17 years.

Township Mayor Gerard Shamey said during a public information meeting Wednesday the money will allow them to enter serious negotiations. The sides previously negotiated from September until talks fell apart in January.

Officials worry the family wants to lengthen the main and crosswind runways, similar to a design in the airport’s 1997 master plan, and create a regional jetport.

A 2002 state Environmental Assessment analyzing the expanded airport suggested a scaled-back version of the master plan’s design. The assessment was only about 85 percent complete, and is too out of date to be considered, according to New Jersey Department of Transportation spokeswoman Erin Phalon.

She said the department has no active applications on file for an airport expansion.

Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.

© 2006 The Express-Times.

Date: May 15, 2006 Source: PennLive.com
URL: http://www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/nj/index.ssf?/base/news-2/114766633191920.xml&coll=2