Yes: 55%
No:  45%

The Hunterdon County Board Of Elections has set May 16th as the date for a referendum on Readington's proposed $22M Bond Ordinance. If approved, the bond will be used to preserve the open space surrounding the airport and thereby block airport expansion. If voted down, Readington will get a jetport.

The special election was scheduled after airport owners circulated a petition contesting the ordinance. New Jersey law requires that a bond issue go to the public when a petition is signed by at least 15% of the number of registered voters who voted in the last Assembly election.

The township wants to use the bond to purchase open space surrounding the airport and possibly development rights to the airport. Purchase of the open space and development rights will prevent future expansion. The town expects to be reimbursed from Green Acres and a low-interest load from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, among other sources.

The town estimates the cost of the bond to the owner of a $400,000 home at $60 per year, based on expected reimbursements and a 20-year loan at 4.5% interest.

With over 750 acres, Solberg airport has an area larger than La Guardia. Solberg went through an expansion attempt in 1990 when it attempted to relocate Linden Airport to Readington, and again in 1997-2002 when it received FAA and NJDOT approval for a master plan calling for a 4890 foot runway, a size sufficient to accommodate large business jets.

With Teterboro and Morristown at capacity, some residents feel that the unprecedented spending by 2005 Township Committee candidate Jim Hunter (who has not disclosed his campaign finances in violation of New Jersey election law) and the fielding of airport-friendly candidates in the 2006 Township Committee race represents an attempt by airport interests to take over the township committee and complete its expansion plans.

Numerous state and federal laws remove the ability to regulate airport growth through zoning, and prevent towns or the airport operator from regulating hours of operation, flight patterns, types of aircraft landing. These issues are solely the purview of the FAA and NJDOT.

Readington Township officials evidently feel that the only hope of blocking airport expansion is acquisition of open space, and feel that if the bond ordinance is voted down, the town will host a jetport.

Click here to read related Courier-News Article "Solberg Bond Set For A Vote."