Readington Township Committee Attempts To Acquire Land Through Eminent Domain

The private owners of a public-use airport in Readington Township, NJ, have been fighting an ongoing legal battle with the township board that is attempting to take over the airport through eminent domain.

While the Township Committee says they want to preserve the airport in its current use, others say that the township has wanted to have the land and surrounding property for development for years.

The airport at the center of the controversy is Soldberg Airport (N51), which is located just west of Newark, NJ. An ANN reader sent an e-mail indicating that the Township Committee has been trying to take over the airport for some time, but is now seeking to condemn the entire airport in order to "preserve it."

Our source indicates that the local government has spent $5 million in interest on bond issues and legal fees in their effort to "close the airport." The family that owns the property on which the airport is located has also spent a great deal of money on legal fees in an effort to maintain control of N51 and keep it operating as a public-use airport.

According to a series of reports appearing on NJ.com, the township filed a condemnation suit against the airport earlier this year, which was dismissed by Judge Yolanda Ciccone. That suit attempted to take the land surrounding the airport by eminent domain. The judge also denied the township's request to reconsider the suit.

At a Township Committee meeting Monday night, an ordinance was introduced that Mayor Julia Allen said would lead to the township buying the property from the private owners, the Solberg family, and transfer it to a publicly-run airport. About 230 people turned out for the meeting, including some balloonists who had traveled as long as three hours, before police stopped allowing people into the building where the meeting was being held. The airport has been home to the Quick Check Balloon Festival since 1983.

Due to the large number of people attending the meeting, NJ.com reports that it was continued until Wednesday at 7:00 pm (EST).

The AOPA has also weighed in on the matter. Our source included a copy of a letter from AOPA Vice President, Airports Bill Dunn to the mayor and members of the committee.

In the letter, Dunn says that the organization is strongly opposed to "ongoing efforts by the Township of Readington to strip ownership and development rights of the Solberg Airport (N51) from a family that has devoted over 3 generations to the safe operation of this important airport. We find it quite troubling that, in the face of continued losses in the state judicial system, the Township would continue to waste scarce taxpayer dollars in pursuing this agenda.

"We believe it the time has come for the Township to cease and desist in efforts to take the airport from the Solberg family. If the town is indeed concerned with preserving the airport and protecting the airport from encroachment from non-conforming uses, then why not enter into an agreement with the family since it would appear that they have the same goals?"

(Top photo Solberg airport pictured in 2006 file image)

FMI: www.solbergairport.com, www.readingtontwp.org/Twp_committee.html, Read the Ordinance