Sets March Trial Date To Determine Airport's Fate

A day after some 500 people showed at a public meeting concerning Solberg Airport in Readington Township, NJ, the Township Committee learned that a judge had dealt them another setback in their efforts to acquire the airport's land.

Judge Yolanda Ciccone has denied a second amended complaint filed by the Township Committee in which the township sought to change its lawsuit seeking to purchase the airport through eminent domain and continue to operate it as an airport, rather than simply purchasing development rights to the property. Ciccone said the case would be heard in March.

NJ.com reports that the judge also lifted a stay on a lawsuit the Solberg family had filed in 2006 against those who had been serving on the Township Committee at that time. The Solberg's suit holds that the local government had not complied with state law requiring zoning for an airport safety zone and the re-zoning of the airport property to a "conforming use."

The Mayor and Township Committee plan to meet Wednesday in a closed-door session to discuss the airport issue, but any vote would take place in an open session.

FMI: www.readingtontwp.org/Twp_committee.html