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Recent Negotiations
Background
The Solbergs spent the 90's developing and obtaining FAA and New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) approval for an Airport Master Plan calling for expansion of Solberg Airport into a jetport. Approval of the Master Plan qualified Solberg for funding of the expansion by the federal government through the Airport Improvement Plan, a means by which capital improvements at private airports are built with public funds.In 2001, with the funding of an Environmental Assessment by the state, the expansion process was well underway despite protests of Readington, Branchburg, and Somerset County officials. Perceiving that it was about to involuntarily host a major jetport, Readington in 2001 altered its Master Plan to call for municipal ownership of the airport, and began acquisition proceedings.
Before the township could complete acquisition, in 2002 the Solbergs signed a contract to sell Solberg Airport to the State of New Jersey for $22M, effectively removing the issue from township hands. After more than two years of negotiations in which the Solbergs held out for what the state considered an unjustifiably higher price, the State withdrew its offer in 2004. In the meantime, the airport expansion issue dropped from public view.
In the 2005 primary election for Readington Township Committee, candidate James Hunter spent an extraordinary amount of money estimated in excess of $50,000 trying to unseat incumbent Julia Allen, for a seat that pays $6,000 per year. Many residents suspected airport interests backed Hunter. We can't know, since Hunter has not filed 2 of 3 required campaign finance reports with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission disclosing his contributors, a violation of state law.
Some residents suspect that the airport would like to control the Township Committee since the Committee and the threat of municipal acquisition is the only force blocking airport expansion. In addition, with a friendly Township Committee, the airport could obtain zoning changes, sewers, and road improvements to facilitate airport expansion - all built at Readington taxpayers' expense.
Recognizing that the airport was again pursuing an expansion agenda, in August 2005, the Township Committee again considered passing a bond ordinance to finance airport acquisition. At the behest of township residents, the Committee instead entered into negotiations with the Solbergs. Read the letter dates August 29, 2005 from then mayor Frank Gatti announcing the negotations.
Public Meeting Of January 17th, 2006
Six negotiating sessions were held, during which the Solbergs proposed to expand the airport's main runway to 5600 feet and build 1,000,000 square feet of hangar and office space. The facility proposed by the Solbergs is comparable in size to Teterboro or Morristown. The negotiations broke down when the Solbergs refused to consider a main runway length of less than 5000 feet (anything more than 4000 feet can accommodate business jets). The Township Committee reported the results of the negotations back to residents in a public meeting on January 17th, 2006.Read the letter from the Township announcing the public meeting.
Read the transcript of the public meeting of January 17th. The transcript includes remarks by Mayor Shamey in which he relates a threat from Solberg business partner and developer Larry Berger that the Solbergs will spend as much money as necessary to win the next Township Committee election.
Transcript of Public Information Meeting - January 17th, 2006.
View Committeeman Frank Gatti's presentation on Airport Negotiations. Gatti reported that the town's objectives are to preserve the open space surrounding the airport and to preserve the airport as an ongoing entity retaining its current character as a recreational airport. Gatti reported that the Solbergs proposed to build a 5600 foot main runway, pave and enlarge the crosswind runway, and build 1,000,000 square feet of open space. After six negotiating sessions, Gatti said that talks broke off when the Solbergs refused to consider a main runway shorter than 5000 feet, a size sufficiently large to accommodate business jets.
Committeeman Frank Gatti's Presentation On Airport Negotiations - January 18th, 2006.
View the Township Aviation Consultant's Presentation. The aviation consultant engaged by the township compared Solberg to Morristown and Teterboro, which have a landing or take off every 3 to 5 minutes on average. He reported that small business jets need a 4000 foot runway; medium business jets need 5000 feet; and large business jets need 6000 feet. The consultant cautioned that development of an airport this large would change the character of the community dramatically, and would affect the entire region due to the larger number of lower-flying aircraft brought into the area.
Aviation Consultant's Presentation - January 17th, 2006.
View The Expanded Airport Safety Zone Required By Proposed Solberg Expansion. Any improvements to properties within the state-mandated Safety Zone must be approved by the State of New Jersey and activities within the zone are regulated by New Jersey law. Solberg Airport Safety Zone.
View Mayor Shamey's letter to the community reporting on the public meeting of January 17th. Mayor Shamey summarizes the township's position and the Solbergs' position, reviews the issues at stake regarding the future of the airport and the community.
Mayor Shamey's Letter To The Community (1-27-06).
$22M Bond Ordinance Hearing February 21, 2006
Expressing a desire for continued negotiations with the Solbergs, on February 6th, the Township Committee passed a resolution authorizing appraisals of the airport property to assess fair market value, and introduced a $22M bond ordinance for the purposes of acquiring the property.Read Mayor Shamey's letter announcing the public hearing for the bond ordinance.
Letter From Mayor Shamey - February 14, 2006.
View the township's presentation given at the public hearing for the $22M bond ordinance. The presentation outlines the township's proposal to make a cash offer to purchase the open space surrounding the airport in pursuit of its long-standing goals to preserve open space and preserve the airport in its current configuration. The airport itself would continue to remain a private business. The proposed to seek reimbursement from a variety of open space funding sources, with an estimated tax impact per year on a $400,000 house of $60 per year.
Township Committee Presentation; Public Hearing for Bond Ordinance for $22,000,000; February 21, 2006.
Read the transcript of the public hearing for the $22M bond ordinance. Of particular interest is the following exchange between Mayor Shamey and Thor Solberg, where Thor waffles when asked to confirm whether or not he wants to extend the runway.
MR. SHAMEY: You told the Courier-News you have no plan or intention to extend the runway, is this true? MR. SOLBERG: That is what I said to you tonight. MR. SHAMEY: That is true, you don't want to extend the runway? MR. SOLBERG: We don't want to do it today.
Transcript on Public Hearing On $22M Bond Ordinance - February 21, 2006.
The Referendum
State law provides that a bond ordinance must be put to referendum if it is challenged by a petition garnering a number of signatures amounting to 15% of the number of votes cast in the most recent election for State Assembly.The Solbergs have submitted a petition to township and county officials for certification, meaning that Readington voters will soon vote on the bond ordinance.
Numerous Federal and State laws and regulations, backed up by numerous court cases, have established that municipalities cannot regulate airport activity through zoning or ordinances.
If the ordinance passes, the Solbergs will have an incentive to negotiation seriously with the township. If the ordinance fails, the airport will again seek to expand, as it has done many times in the past.
Read a summary of recent events from the Star-Ledger. Town Weighs Buying Solberg Airport 3/22/2006