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[quote="Guest"]http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2010/11/29/topstory/doc4cf3bf67dfa59688927683.txt

Middlesex County would be ignoring local laws if it, as planned, takes a 20-foot strip of land from a historically preserved farm in Cranbury to expand Old Trenton Road.

The land the county would condemn is part of the Danser Farmstead. A historic farmhouse built in the mid 1880s is located on the farm, and the property “has been used as a filming location for several television commercials and photo shoots due to its historic character,” said Robert Diamond, owner of the property.

Mr. Diamond addressed the Township Committee at its meeting Monday and suggested the committee make it known to the county that local laws are being violated in the expansion of Old Trenton Road.

Mr. Diamond is a member of the Cranbury Historic and Preservation Society. He personally has invested his time and money in keeping the farmstead an intact historic setting, he said.

Mayor David J. Stout said it’s a shame this issue came up because improvements to Old Trenton Road are being done due to the public’s concern about the road’s safety. The township, however, never approved plans for the road’s improvement that included condemning a portion of historically preserved land.

”It puts the town in a somewhat difficult position,” said the mayor.

The construction on the road began three months ago and will, hopefully, be finished before Christmas, said Ron Sedner, supervising engineer at the county engineering office.

”I can assure you we’re doing everything legally,” he said. “We’re just providing a consistent roadway. It’s not a good situation when you have a wide to narrow to wide road.”

The widening of the road also will add left turning lanes into side streets off Old Trenton Road.

”Most of the parcels of land were acquired years ago, but recently one parcel was brought to our attention,” he said, referring to the 20-foot by 515-foot strip of land on the Danser Farmstead. The county had Mr. Diamond’s property appraised and offered to purchase it, but Mr. Diamond rejected the offer.

Mr. Sedner and Mr. Diamond did not want to discuss the amount offered.

The 1993 Cranbury Township Master Plan designates the Danser Farmstead as a “late 1800’s L-Plan Victorian Vernacular” house.

The Master Plan is not a legally binding document, but Cranbury’s code protects the plan’s inventory of historic sites, which includes the Danser farmstead.

Chapter 93 of the code states, “Historic sites noted in the Cranbury Township Master Plan . . . shall be retained, and the setting of these historic sites shall be maintained by preserving the area surrounding the structure as required.”

It adds these standards are in place to protect the site features, “which may include the farm structures, trees, hedgerows, landscaping and pastures that are located within proximity of a historic site.”

”A certificate of approval issued by the commission (Historic Preservation Commission) shall be required before a permit is issued or before work can begin” on a project that would change the setting of a historic site, states the code.

”It’s clear that the intent is to preserve the farmstead setting as a whole, not just the house,” Mr. Diamond said.

Even though county laws supersede local laws, “this is not a case of conflicting laws,” Mr. Diamond said. “This is a case of a county action that disregards Cranbury’s laws.”

”I do not understand the efficacy of widening a 35-mph road and believe the permanent damage to a historic farmstead property far outweighs any benefit that could possibly result from a widened roadway,” he said.

If the county continues with its plans to expand Old Trenton Road, 14 trees, “some of which are historic oaks probably over 100 years old” will be cut down,” Mr. Diamond said.

The Township Committee said all it can do is write a letter to the county, suggesting it respect the township code. The county, however, still can override the code if it believes the project is for the greater good.

”We can ask the county to follow the laws we put in place, but the decision is still up to the judge,” said Councilman Win Cody after listening to Mr. Diamond’s case.

”I’m sure the judge is unaware that this violates our code,” Mr. Diamond added.[/quote]

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