Save Rural Andover Borough - New dates set for public hearings

http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2007/02/21/township_journal/news/1.txt

New dates set for public hearings
02/21/07 - Township Journal

Andover - The borough has set new dates for public hearings on the Beazer Homes proposal.

The new meeting dates are Monday, March 5 and Tuesday, March 6. They are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Andover Borough fire house, 166 Main St.

These meetings are required to establish a public record for review by Judge Theodore Bozonelis of New Jersey Superior Court, who heard a lawsuit brought by the developer and property owner of the 235 acres of farmland that is the subject of Beazer Homes proposal.

Bozonelis, sitting in Morris County, directed the borough and developer to set several public meeting dates. The original dates were Jan. 17 and 25. The judge told all parties the proposed development could not be a financial burden to the borough or the regional school system it shares with Andover Township. He also said it must not have a negative environmental impact on the area.

Beazer homes is proposing a 590-unit subdivision for the borough which currently has fewer than 300 homes. The property is between Brighton Road and Route 206, which becomes Main Street in the borough.

The proposal calls for 30,000 square feet of retail space, 38,000 square feet of office space, 175,000 square feet of warehouse/industrial space, 10,000 square feet of public space, 80 single-family detached houses, 197 age-restricted units, 121 townhouses and 192 for-sale apartments. The plan was submitted to the borough on Dec. 30, 2005.

On Feb. 13, 2006, the Andover Borough Council passed a resolution declaring the nearly 20-year-old general development plan approval null and void. Since that time, Andover Borough has been revising its master plan, addressing issues of zoning, and working on limestone, steep slope and COAH ordinances, as well as reviewing its town center designation.

After litigation was initiated, Attorney Richard P. Cushing of Gebhardt & Kiefer in Clinton was hired as special counsel to defend the suit. Beazer Homes is represented by Attorney Donald R. Daines, of Hill Wallack in Princeton.

The grassroots organization, Save Rural Andover Borough (SRAB) hired an attorney and retained Amy Greene Environmental Consultants to study the area surrounding the property and assess potential environmental impact.