Solberg Airport takeover costs out of control
“In May of 2006, Readington residents did vote “yes” in a referendum authorizing the township to acquire development rights in land surrounding Solberg Airport “for a purchase pricenot to exceed $22 million.” This language was written verbatim on the explanatory statement as it appeared in the voting booths. The referendum was approved by 56 percent, with voter turnout of around 60 percent.
When the township subsequently filed an eminent domain action to forcibly take the property, the Solbergs defended against such an action. Who wouldn’t defend against a forced taking of their own property? Further, the Solbergs filed a counterclaim seeking to force Readington’s zoning laws to comply with what had been previously mandated by a pre-emptive state law dating back to 1983. For Julia Allen and Frank Gatti to characterize this as a “lawsuit against the township seeking to rezone” is intentionally misleading, and conveniently leaves out their own malfeasance in refusing to comply with state law for 30-plus years.”
My Central New Jersey 25 May 2014.