Politics & Government
Township Eyes Redevelopment of Vacant Industrial Tract in Finderne
Weyerhauser site, unoccupied for years, has fallen into disrepair.
The township took the first steps on Monday night to redevelop a tract in Finderne that has been vacant for many years.
The Township Council voted unanimously to recommend to the Planning Board to investigate the possibility of redeveloping the L-shaped 18-acre property off East Main Street known as the Weyerhauser tract.
The front part of the property is at 652 E. Main Street, where there is an abandoned office building. The rear of the property is on Radel Avenue and was used as warehouse space when Weyerhauser operated a wood products distribution center on the site, which borders NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line.
But the property, now owned by Eden Wood Corp., of Whippany, has fallen into disrepair. The property is gated from Main Street and the office building, with numerous broken windows and other structural damage, is surrounded by overgrown plant life.
Township Administrator Jim Naples said the building has been stripped of its mechanical systems by vandals and others who may have sold copper pipes.
”It certainly needs redevelopment,” Naples said, calling the property “blighted.”
Councilman Howard Norgalis said years ago the township responded favorably and quickly to a proposal to construct a senior citizen community on the property “but nothing happened” as market conditions changed.
Councilman Allen Kurdyla said the township should take action on the redevelopment to prevent the property from falling into worse shape.
The Planning Board now has to make a recommendation to the Township Council whether the property needs redevelopment. The Township Council would then tell the Planning Board to create a redevelopment plan for the property.
The property is assessed at $3 million. According to state records, the land is valued at $2,791,500 and the structures are valued at $208,500. The 2012 property tax bill was $96,624.
