Abandoned Property Redevelopment Report Hearing Scheduled

A report examining the reasons why the Finderne property that formerly housed offices and a warehouse of the Weyerhauser Corporation should be considered for redevelopment planning—possibly including the township's use of eminent domain to seize the land—at a December Planning Board meeting.

The report was prepared by Township Planner Scarlett Doyle, Township Attorney Thomas Collins and Township Engineer Robert Bogart after the Township Council requested the report in July. The report considers the eight criteria for placing property in a special redevelopment zone required by law, although Doyle noted at Tuesday's Planning Board meeting, only one of the eight needs to be met for the township to act.

"Not all of them are applicable, but many of them are," Doyle said.

She told Planning Board members that after the board collects written and oral statements from residents at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 9, board members will be asked to vote on whether or not the board deems the property in need of redevelopment.

The council then decides whether or not to have a redevelopment plan prepared, which can include a number of actions aimed at improving the property.

The Weyerhauser property has been long out of use, with the buildings falling into disrepair. Township Administrator James Naples called it "blighted" when the council discussed the matter in July, noting wiring and copper pipes have been ripped out of the walls by thieves.

The ultimate aim of redevelopment is to bring the property's use current, for public safety as well as tax revenue potential. State records report the current owners paid about $97,000 in property taxes on the 18-acre parcel, which has a total assessment of $3 million, in 2012.

But the buildings are only valued at $208,500, so redevelopment could improve the tax picture. The land was approved for development as a senior residential facility earlier, but the project was never developed. 

Redevelopment laws enable the township to offer incentives for property owners to improve such properties, and can be useful for encouraging new development: the Bridgewater Commons was such a project.

But the law also makes it possible for municipalities to use a bigger stick, if necessary, through the use of eminent domain to take property from current owners. Township officials said they would try to work with the current owners as much as possible in the event of any recommendations for the Weyerhauser site.