Council responsible for Lawrence portion of trail

By: Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The Lawrence Ledger

August 21, 2003

Members willing to hear recommendations from residents.

The decision on the route of the proposed Lawrence Hopewell Trail through Lawrence Township-owned land--specifically, the Carson Road Woods parcel--rests with Township Council.

That's the message that was delivered by Township Council to the dozen residents who have an interest in the Carson Road Woods property and who were sitting in the audience at the council's Tuesday night meeting.

Township Council also formally appointed Municipal Manager William Guhl to be the council's liaison to the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Committee, which is overseeing the creation of the trail.

The LHT has proposed a 20-mile loop intended for bicyclists and pedestrians that would connect Lawrence and Hopewell townships. A portion of the trail would skirt the wooded area on the 183-acre Carson Road Woods parcel. One proposal called for the trail to consist of a 10-foot-wide asphalt path.

Carson Road resident Sheila Ager told the council that there has been much discussion of the trail by various groups. The Mercer County executive's office is "deeply involved" in the trail, for example, she said.

But she is a "little puzzled" by where Township Council stands, Ms. Ager said. She said the land was purchased with a mix of private and public dollars, and she questioned why a road would be put through the parcel when it was purchased as a preserve.

"Where does the overall planning lie," Ms. Ager said. The Educational Testing Service and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. are playing a role in the planning of the trail, she said. Both companies have representatives on the LHT committee, she added.

Since the responsibility for Carson Road Woods rests with Township Council, how is it managed between Mercer County, BMS and ETS, she said. It does not appear that Township Council has had much input in the planning of the bicycle trail, she said.

When Mercer County is involved, it becomes a matter of what is best for Mercer County and not necessarily for Lawrence Township--and particularly for the people who contributed money to help purchase the Carson Road Woods parcel, Ms. Ager said.

Mr. Guhl, who sits on the LHT committee, said that based on his recollection, the first meeting to discuss the proposed trail was held in early 2002.

The meeting was a "loose collection" of parties who were interested in a trail, Mr. Guhl said. The initial meeting was held to determine whether anyone was really interested in a bicycle trail, he added. It was only through an evolutionary process that the proposed route was set out, he said.

It would be hard to imagine that the trail would not affect Mercer County roads or parkland owned by the county, Mr. Guhl said. That's why Mercer County is represented on the LHT committee, as well as Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, BMS and ETS, he said.

Councilman Rick Miller, who belongs to the Friends of Carson Road Woods Inc. and whose home borders the parcel, said Township Council never designated anyone to represent the township on the LHT committee--nor did the LHT formally approach the council.

Mayor Greg Puliti said that under the township's administrative code, the municipal manager is responsible for all township-owned land, so he automatically was involved on the LHT committee. Councilwoman Pam Mount also has been active on the committee.

Councilwoman Doris Weisberg agreed with Mr. Miller that a representative of the LHT had never appeared before Township Council--even though over the past four years, "a parade of people" have given proposals for various items to Township Council.

It would be a courtesy for the LHT to send a representative to Township Council, Ms. Weisberg said. And although Mr. Guhl has indicated that he would never act against Township Council's wishes, she said, "the council has never endorsed or not endorsed" the proposed bicycle path.

When Ms. Ager repeated her assertion that Township Council had not told the residents how it fits into the picture, Mayor Puliti said the council makes the final decision. Right now, the council is waiting for a recommendation from the LHT.

At a community meeting last month at ETS, the LHT committee said it would reconsider the proposed bicycle path route and report back with a recommendation by Sept. 30. Mr. Guhl said the committee will have recommendations for Township Council regarding the portion of the trail that is under the township's jurisdiction.

Ms. Mount, who also has been sitting on the LHT committee, said she wanted to make it clear that when the idea for a bicycle trail was first bandied about in 2001, she was the mayor. In that role, she said, she took it on herself to be the liaison to the group that was just starting up.

Ms. Mount also said that the committee is not dominated by ETS or BMS. The committee met with the township's Greenway Committee and the Environmental Resources Committee, she said. Township Council has not requested a meeting with the committee, she added.

While the Carson Road Woods neighbors may believe their "spot" is the most important, it is only part of the 20-mile trail, she said. There are many issues that must be worked out, she said.

Mayor Puliti repeated that Mr. Guhl will give Township Council the administration's recommendation on the bicycle path's route. In the meantime, Township Council will accept any input that residents want to offer, he said.

"We want to be at the table when the decision is being made," Ms. Ager told the council. "We are stakeholders. We've got a treasure. Look at it carefully before you put a 10-foot-wide path through it."

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