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STATE WANTS SAY ON MILLVILLE LAND SALE
Date: 040429
From: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/cumberland/
By J. Staas HAUGHT, Staff Writer, (609) 272-7253
Press of Atlantic City, April 29, 2004
Millville - A state environmental agency asked the Board of Public
Utilities on Wednesday to let it intervene in a hotly contested land
sale.
Green Acres, an office of the Department of Environmental Protection,
offered Conectiv $3.4 million for 1,350 acres currently being
considered for housing development.
Millville 1350 LLC had already agreed to pay the electric utility $4
million for the undeveloped land on east Main Street.
The developer is hoping to build 903 units for an adult community
known as the Preserve at Holly Ridge. The development would also
include a golf course and other amenities for active senior citizens.
The BPU was expected to approve the deal in March, but instead
granted four environmental groups intervener status, further delaying
the case.
Wednesday's motion by Green Acres would grant them intervener status
as well. The BPU deferred voting on the motion until a later date.
A DEP spokeswoman said Green Acres' motion is a renewal of a 1999
offer to purchase the land.
"Green Acres made an offer on the site based on its environmentally
sensitive status," said Erin Phalon.
Millville officials argue that all environmental concerns have been
dealt with.
"This is a very important project for the city. I think the city's
position is that the environmental issues at the site are adequately
addressed in a way that the project should be a model of sound
environmental planning," Economic Development Director Don Ayres said.
"We feel the environmental science is on the side of the project."
Cumberland County-based Citizens United To Protect the Maurice River
and Its Tributaries, one of the groups granted intervener status,
disputes the city's claims.
"It's surrounded by protected space," Citizens United president Jane
Galetto said. "If you were to interrupt that area or fragment that
area, you jeopardize the environment."
Galetto said the development does little to ensure the area stays
environmentally stable. She said more than 900 acres of the land would
be used for housing, leaving only a few hundred acres as open space.
"The area they plan to keep as open space is for a golf course, which
is not a habitat for species," Galetto said.
Ayres said the sale, if approved, would be a win-win situation for
all parties.
"In addition, we desperately need the ratables that the project would
produce, being well over $2 million over two years to the city and $2
million to the school districts," he said.
Galetto said the city has an obligation to operate within its budget.
"If we try to chase the city's budget needs with housing what happens
when we're out of land to develop?," she said.
Conectiv had originally planned to use the former holly orchard for a
generation station, but reversed course when the company's electric
generation operation shifted into a separate business.
Company spokeswoman Betty Kennedy said that while the land sale would
benefit both Conectiv and city residents the decision is in the hands
of the BPU.
"The board will make that decision and take action it deems
appropriate," she said.
David Meisken, the site's potential develop,r could not be reached
for comment.
* * *
To email J. Staas Haught at The Press: JHaught@pressofac.com
Date: 040429
From: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/cumberland/
By J. Staas HAUGHT, Staff Writer, (609) 272-7253
Press of Atlantic City, April 29, 2004
Millville - A state environmental agency asked the Board of Public
Utilities on Wednesday to let it intervene in a hotly contested land
sale.
Green Acres, an office of the Department of Environmental Protection,
offered Conectiv $3.4 million for 1,350 acres currently being
considered for housing development.
Millville 1350 LLC had already agreed to pay the electric utility $4
million for the undeveloped land on east Main Street.
The developer is hoping to build 903 units for an adult community
known as the Preserve at Holly Ridge. The development would also
include a golf course and other amenities for active senior citizens.
The BPU was expected to approve the deal in March, but instead
granted four environmental groups intervener status, further delaying
the case.
Wednesday's motion by Green Acres would grant them intervener status
as well. The BPU deferred voting on the motion until a later date.
A DEP spokeswoman said Green Acres' motion is a renewal of a 1999
offer to purchase the land.
"Green Acres made an offer on the site based on its environmentally
sensitive status," said Erin Phalon.
Millville officials argue that all environmental concerns have been
dealt with.
"This is a very important project for the city. I think the city's
position is that the environmental issues at the site are adequately
addressed in a way that the project should be a model of sound
environmental planning," Economic Development Director Don Ayres said.
"We feel the environmental science is on the side of the project."
Cumberland County-based Citizens United To Protect the Maurice River
and Its Tributaries, one of the groups granted intervener status,
disputes the city's claims.
"It's surrounded by protected space," Citizens United president Jane
Galetto said. "If you were to interrupt that area or fragment that
area, you jeopardize the environment."
Galetto said the development does little to ensure the area stays
environmentally stable. She said more than 900 acres of the land would
be used for housing, leaving only a few hundred acres as open space.
"The area they plan to keep as open space is for a golf course, which
is not a habitat for species," Galetto said.
Ayres said the sale, if approved, would be a win-win situation for
all parties.
"In addition, we desperately need the ratables that the project would
produce, being well over $2 million over two years to the city and $2
million to the school districts," he said.
Galetto said the city has an obligation to operate within its budget.
"If we try to chase the city's budget needs with housing what happens
when we're out of land to develop?," she said.
Conectiv had originally planned to use the former holly orchard for a
generation station, but reversed course when the company's electric
generation operation shifted into a separate business.
Company spokeswoman Betty Kennedy said that while the land sale would
benefit both Conectiv and city residents the decision is in the hands
of the BPU.
"The board will make that decision and take action it deems
appropriate," she said.
David Meisken, the site's potential develop,r could not be reached
for comment.
* * *
To email J. Staas Haught at The Press: JHaught@pressofac.com