Wantage to rethink master plan changes

WANTAGE-The "Save Rural Wantage" campaign has stretched beyond the boundaries of the township, and signs can be seen along Route 23 warning of the expected development. At Tuesday night's meeting of the Land Use Board, the battle was answered with a reprieve. With more than 100 citizens gathered for Tuesday night's meeting, the board's attorney, Glenn Kenz, said the committee will take the plan back to the drawing board and would not bring it up for public hearing again until September. The proposed changes in the town's master plan called for completion of a new road paralleling Route 23 between Blair and Cemetery Roads. By transferring development rights from other parts of the township, officials wanted to encourage the construction of a series of hamlets with high-density mixed-use housing that would have added as many as 2,700 housing units. At the same time, the bulk of the township would remain free from development. Town officials thought it was a way to create an identifiable town center while preserving open space. But residents, especially those in the vicinity of the proposed developments, quickly mobilized against what they saw as the destruction of their rural way of life. Apparently, their voices were heard, and the board decided to revisit the plan before even going to the public hearing that had been planned for Tuesday night. "We will take a re-look and are considering a number of things that we heard," said board attorney Glenn Kenz. "We are considering and reconsidering a number of options. There will be at some future date a public hearing." He then set that date as Sept. 20. Speaking on the proposed projects, Space said that "it was a plan that was an idea to try to take care of some of the housing obligations of the town," but added that he understood that the residents are obviously not in favor of it. Space assured the public that "no one on the board wants to see any more houses in Wantage Township than you do, but the landowners have rights." He agreed that the issue should be tabled for further consideration. He concluded, "We will take recommendations of the residents of the town and take it from there." Kenz told the public that there will be sufficient notice of the September meeting and that the information will be accurate and that no further action will be taken until that time, but he also said that he does not want the municipality to be sued by a developer. He agreed to an informational meeting at which the public would have their questions and concerns answered. Kenz said that the board "is looking for helpful information on the planning concepts." He emphasized that the members of the board are "very active" and hard-working, constantly working and reading and willing to meet at times to accommodate the residents. "We have to be able for everyone to see the overall picture of Wantage for the future," said Kenz. "What we tried to do is focus it (development) to prevent sprawl." Sandra Babcock, who has spearheaded the campaign against the proposal, said that the petition against development now has as many as 1,700 signatures. Before the meeting, one resident, who did not get a chance to speak, said she is not against development "as long as it's the right kind." Janet Valero, who commutes to her nursing job in New York City, has lived in the township since 1995. "I live here but work in New York City. It is peaceful." But she expressed a concern that that her three daughters who attend college will not have any job opportunities. "Our kids have no place to work," she said, concluding that, "New development is sometimes good; it increases the value of your property."