Former Ewing mayor Jack Ball blasts GM redevelopment proposal By DAVID FOSTER, dfoster@trentonian EWING — Former township Mayor Jack Ball is warning residents to hold onto their wallets. In response to a proposal to build 820 townhouses at the former GM site off Parkway Avenue, Ball believes the plan could cost taxpayers millions. “The taxpayer has not been properly informed about aspects of the plan and much of the anticipated costs will be forwarded to them — not the developer,” said Ball, who is running for mayor in November. “After raising our taxes over 40 percent in their first year in office, the current administration could put us on the hook for even higher taxes when the new GM development is built due to a need for new schools, EMT, police, equipment and much more.” Closed in 1998, what to do with GM’s Delphi plant on 80 acres of land has been a contentious issue in the township. After years of bouncing around ideas, such as turning the property into transit hub or solar field, the township unveiled last week its plans for townhouses and retail space. Ball said Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann, who unseated him in 2010, disclosed that there would be 120 to 170 additional students added to the school roles. “There has been no, and I repeat, no dialogue with the Ewing School Board to determine how this will affect our school system,” Ball said Monday in a statement. “Just using the figures from the development across the street, 48 resident students, when the projection was fewer than 10, the reality is probably closer to between 600 and 850 new students.” Ball, a Republican, feels there is only one solution to deal with growing number of students since the current township schools are now over 95 percent capacity. “Build a new school, or two!” he exclaimed. “And even if the developer were to buy the ground and build the buildings who will have to pay to staff, furnish and maintain them. You guessed it the taxpayers ... you and me.” Neither Steinmann nor the site developer, Lennar, returned messages seeking comment. Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony last week at the former GM site. Ball said the property should be home to more commercial development rather than residential to improve the tax base. “We need more big business in Ewing and this plan doesn’t help grow our local economy because we already have enough residential units,” said Ball, who is running on a slate with council candidates Susan Bagley and Tony Davis. “Why should we have to shop in Hamilton or Princeton instead of employing residents right here in Ewing and use that space to attract a large retailer?”
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 22:24:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015