In the early 1990’s, memory of the attempt to move Linden Airport’s traffic to Solberg was still fresh in residents’ minds (to read the history of the Linden Expansion click here).    Suspicions ran high when the Solbergs applied for funding to complete an airport Master Plan, which would qualify them for federal money to improve the airport.  Readington Township lost its attempt to co-sponsor the Master Plan when the FAA pulled a fast one and suddenly gave Solberg Airport “reliever status”, which qualified the airport to sponsor a Master Plan and subsequently for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds for airport expansion. 

 

Work on the Master Plan began in 1997, which gained FAA and NJ DOT approvals in 1999.  The Master Plan called for a 5900 foot main runway which would have easily accommodated regional passenger and business jets.  The airport was in an active expansion process, and objections by the town and neighboring communities was blithely disregarded by the FAA and the State Department of Transportation.

 

Readington Township began condemnation proceedings as a last resort, but before those efforts could proceed, in 2002 the State of New Jersey and the Solbergs signed a contract to sell the airport to the state for $22 million.  In 2004 the State withdrew the offer after the Solbergs held out for what the State considered to be an unjustifiably higher price.  Some residents speculate that the Solbergs never intended to sell to the state, but were simply looking for a way to avoid condemnation by the township.

 

The following articles provide a chronology of events to build a jetport in the 90s.  We hope to add additional articles to fill in gaps in the late 90’s and early 00’s.

 

 

 

 

Family News: Township Continues Action To Stop Airport Expansion (7/3/1990)

 

Readington Township is still investigating acquiring Solberg Airport despite the collapse of the deal Solberg had with Linden to take on

Linden’s traffic in exchange for funds to improve Solberg.  The plan to move Linden Airport to Solberg died when Linden Mayor Paul Werkmeister was defeated and the Linden City Council voted down the proposal on June 19^th.  Readington Mayor Mirota said officials still fear the possibility of future expansion because the 1983 Airport Safety and Hazard Zone Act limits the ability of municipalities to block airport expansion.

 

Hunterdon Review: Solberg Asks Township, Public To Take Part In Master Planning (1990)

 

Solberg Aviation proposed that Readington Township take part in its long-range master plan study.  On September 4, the committee discussed taking over Solberg Airport through the power of eminent domain.  Thor Solberg said he was not willing to sell and would resist a takeover.  Solberg said he had no plan for expansion “at present” but that the airport should be prepared to handle small corporate planes up to the size of four to five passenger jets.  They would come and go at times when most people are at work, he added.  “The beauty of corporate activity is that flights take place when most people are at home, whereas recreational flying is done at the peak times for people to be at home”, he said.

 

Democrat: Talks On Airport Get Off Ground (8/23/1990)

 

The Readington Township Committee wants to buy the airport and make it a municipal facility to gain control over its future.  A deal to make Solberg the replacement facility for Linden recently fell through but township officials continue to worry that the airport might be expanded in the future.  Mayor Stephen Mirota said the township wants to acquire the airport to ensure that it remains a recreational rather than commercial operation.  Mirota said the township would consider resorting to condemning the property to acquire it.

 

Democrat FAA Names Solberg Reliever Airport (8/30/1990)

 

Mayor Mirota says he has heard that the FAA has designated Solberg a “reliever airport”, a status that will qualify the owners to apply for federal funds to develop a master plan.  The designation comes one week after township officials contended that the Solbergs did not have authority to sponsor the master plan since they lacked reliever airport status.  Readington contended that the municipality should sponsor the master plan.  The master plan is required before other federal funds can be received to improve the airport.

 

Democrat Neither Side Blinks In Airport Dog Fight (9/20/1990)

 

Negotiations between Readington Township and the Solbergs deadlocked over which party would apply to the FAA for funding to do a master plan for the airport.  The Solbergs invited the town to participate in their master plan study; the town wanted to participate, but as a sponsor or co-sponsor, participating as an equal.   The Township Committee authorized an appraisal of the airport property; the Solbergs said the move indicates the township may condemn the airport to acquire it.  The Committee said it would only condemn as a last resort.  The Solbergs want to make improvements, and say these changes will not bring additional traffic.  The committee and many residents fear that the Solbergs will expand the airport to allow larger planes and more air traffic.

 

Democrat: Solbergs Get FAA Grant For Airport Master Plan (12/20/1990)

 

The Solbergs were granted $71,282, 90% of the estimated cost, to develop an airport master plan.  The FAA approved the grant because it has a policy of encouraging “reliever airports” that take excess traffic from larger metropolitan airports.  The FAA has previously designated Solberg as a reliever airport.  Committeeman Ron Monaco asked Solberg if he would agree that jets would not be based at the airport.  Solberg responded that he didn’t think that decisions should be made before the study was completed.

 

Democrat: Readington Challenges Claim Of No Opposition To Airport (9/1991)

 

Solberg Airport falsely claimed in documents filed with the FAA that there is “no known local opposition” to expanding the airport, township officials charge.  The statement was made in the application to the FAA for funding development of a Master Plan, which would chart future growth at the airport.  Airport spokesman Ed Nagle said the statement was an error.

 

Hunterdon Review: Solberg Expansion Gains Fed, State OK (4/15/1999)

 

Over the objections of Readington township and many residents, the federal and state governments “conditionally approved” the expansion of Solberg airport to accommodate jets.  The expansion includes replace the 3,700 foot runway with a 5,600 foot runway, leading many to believe the airport will be used by jets – a suspicion Solberg strongly denies.

 

Hunterdon Review: Hundreds Protest Airport Expansion.pdf (6/10/1999)

 

Six hundred residents jammed the Middle School and pledged to do whatever it takes to stop Solberg airport from expanding into a jetport.  “I’d be less than honest if I didn’t say the proposed expansion will definitely have a negative impact on property values,” said Coldwell Banker Realtor Judy Davis, who added a prospective purchaser recently canceled because of the expansion threat.    Branchburg-Readington Airport Action Coalition (BRAAC) co-chairman Jack Gentempo said this airport expansion is like all others across the nation, citing Teterboro and other towns which have suffered due to steady increments in their airports.  Though the state has never done a report on real estate impact, the Booz Allen Hamilton consulting company conducted a nationwide study for the FAA evaluating the effect of airport expansion on property values, and showed reduction in property values, he said.