Letter from Dave and Jay

[Letter in Patch-0o99]

http://eastwindsor.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-two-cranbury-candidates-thank-voters

Dear Editor and Residents:

We’d like to express our appreciation for all those who voted in the June 5th primary. Over the last two and a half years, we have worked together on a number of issues to help keep Cranbury special for residents and businesses. Together, we faced serious challenges as a result of reductions in state aid, energy tax receipts and the decline in real estate values.

Despite these challenges, we were able to reduce the operating budget by over half of a million dollars since 2009 (excluding grant money) and reduce the town’s debt by more than $2 million.

Recently, Standard and Poor’s contacted the township to review our bond rating. Their review focused on the Township’s surplus, the amount of the tax rate increase, whether the Township went up to the levy cap, and if there was a policy in place on how much surplus the Township wanted to keep in order to keep the taxes stable, but not run out of surplus. They concluded their assessment by maintaining our AAA bond rating.

We’re proud that despite the financial challenges we have been able to continue our heritage of land preservation by preserving 257 acres of farmland with the township bearing only 17.6% of the total purchase price.

We also took action to address our business communities concerns. We worked with the planning board, businesses and residents to revise the master plan to open new opportunities for businesses to come to Cranbury. We removed outdoor seating fees, formed a subcommittee to improve signage ordinances, and increased and improved downtown parking. We applied for and received a $250,000 grant to install brick sidewalks in the business district and help beautify the downtown, commencing this fall.

To improve pedestrian access in Cranbury, we applied for a grant to install sidewalks connecting Shadow Oaks to the downtown business district. If the grant is received, our residents in Shadow Oaks will be able to safely walk downtown and for those in town to walk to friends’ homes in Shadow Oaks and the Swim Club.

Moving forward, a lot remains to be accomplished including the Main Street Dam repairs, the implementation of the master plan, the on-going affordable housing issues and addressing the continued economic downturn. Fortunately, over the last three years we have obtained the experience and connections that will help Cranbury continue moving forward and still be able to meet the plans set forth by past generations. We are thankful for your support in the primary and look forward to the possibility of another opportunity to serve the residents of Cranbury.

Sincerely,

Mayor Dave Cook and Committeeman Jay Taylor

[better shape than NJ-p4or]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/nj_not_among_31_states_reporti.html

Cranbury doing the right thing, NJ doing the wrong thing as usual

[publius-27p1]

Brick walks are nice, but, will they really make people want to shop more in town?
Is there some psychological market research behind this?
Shadow Oaks is a bit of a hike from Main St. At least, as far as where the shops are located.
I guess that it's an okay idea, but, downtowns only benefit from certain types of businesses anymore. The economics have changed.
Find the best businesses to thrive in a small downtown area, and encourage them to open up downtown.
Upmarket gift shops, antique shops, specialty bakery, jewelry, photography, high-end clothing, real estate offices, interior design shops...etc.
The antiques shops are great.
They don't really compete with one another, the more you have, the better, they are clean and attract the right clientele.

[ok-8p94]

[Shadow oaks resident-25r5]

The sidewalks are a first step. The TC is also looking at how the street will look when the dam is done, perhaps new lighting, etc. Like a home if the downtown looks nice and welcoming people will want to visit. Hightstown is a great example of a transformation.

In terms of shadow oaks a lot of families live there who would walk or ride bikes to town. They'd walk for a meal or to get ice cream plus kids in town could ride bikes out to play with friends. Shadow Oaks has always been large, but disconnected. The TC is trying to address this as sidewalks will tie the different neighborhoods together.

[Shadow Oaks Paths-9q05]

We also need to thank Jay Taylor for taking a lead for marking the paths besides the homes in Shadow Oaks to the area behind the homes and stream. It is too bad it did not pass before but with his re-election, and possible Mayor role, we can be sure that sorely needed improvement is done in Shadow Oaks.

[Shadow oaks resident-o16n]

Mr. Taylor voted no along with all the others to marking the access. The access was created when the homes were built. I took my family on them and kids used them with their friends. I see kids still using them today. [/quote]

[anon-273s]

Why is a new sidewalk needed from Shadow Oaks to town. Talk about a waste of money. New brick sidewalks, can't wait to see what they look like come spring after a winter of salt. Also places downtown that sell food should be responsible for their trash. The downtown area looked like crap on memorial day evening with napkins all over the place from one open business.

[ok-8p94]

[anon-554o]

I think this issue needs to go to vote. Maybe there is a good reason it hasn't been acted on in 25 years. There is a sidewalk today, you just need to cross the street. This is a huge waste of money. Address plainsborough road first- we have already spent public money on preserved/ park space there- how about we provide a way to get there!

[anon-97on]

[ok-8p94]

[anon-924n]

But why brick sidewalks? Cranbury does not have brick sidewalks, it's an old NJ farm town, not Colonial Williamsburg or Disneyland. We keep losing authenticity piece by piece. The latest example being the Princeton Ballet building. The uniqueness of that old building is being taken away and given an homogenized makeover because someone thinks it will look better. Heck, they filmed the movie IQ here and used that building because of the way it looked.

[Sidewalks-818s]

Some clarification.

Old Trenton Rd- this is a state grant the TC

applied for due to the number of kids there. From Shadow Oaks to town there is no continous sidewalk. It is expensive which is why no TC including this one has been able to make it happen using money from our property taxes. Yet has been a goal which is why you see sidewalks in spots such as by four seasons or further up the road by millstone park. The hope is that since the DOT will issue the money to someone that we can get it for this project and our town.

Brick sidewalks- this is a state grant that covers the business district. Sidewalks were originally ashes or boards and then brick before concrete. Concrete sidewalks are younger than our town. The brick will hopefully help the downtown area.

[anon-554o]

[ok-8p94]