Dear Neighbors,

As 2004 begins to unfold, the big news items seem like the same issues we've faced for the last few years - more school construction, the threat of more unwanted development and a glimmer of hope that the airport expansion saga may eventually end.  

Ashbrook School Expansion:  As I reported in the January 17th E-News, the Board of Education has retained the services of a consulting company to study future classroom capacity needs.  At the February 11th School Board meeting, the consulting company reported that Lumberton will be 23 classrooms short by 2008.  The consultants reported that Lumberton public school's Pre-K through - 8th grade population will grow by about 100 students per year for the next five years as the homes in County Estates Phase 3, Meadow Glen, and Coventry Glen Phase 3 enter the school system.  The consultants recommended expanding the Ashbrook School by between 20,000 - 35,000 square feet to support the 287 "unseated students".  The 4th Grade would be moved from Bobby's Run to Ashbrook as part of the consultants' recommendation.

At the February 12th Board of Education meeting, the board discussed starting the approval process for this expansion in the near future, but no decisions were made.  The primary reason for starting the application process sooner is to get better funding from the state.  The state paid 52% of the Ashbrook construction costs.  The same funding rules are still in effect in Trenton, but there is concern that the amount of State funding will decrease in the future as the State's budget woes continue.

State to Purchase the South Jersey Regional Airport:  It is almost official, the owners of the South Jersey Regional Airport (SJRA) announced that they have agreed to sell the airport to the state of New Jersey.  The airport will remain open.  The state will likely outsource the day-to-day administration of the airport to a private contractor.  Last year, the SJRA paid over $ 69,000 in property tax.  Once the state takes ownership of the airport, they will not be required to pay local property tax.

Airport Expansion Bill:  On February 21st, a bill to prohibit the expansion of airport runways near population centers was introduced into the New Jersey Assembly.  The bill was amended to only apply to State owned airports.  The bill is expected to be debated and possibly voted on in the full Assembly in the next few weeks.  Similar bills prohibiting airport expansion have been introduced over the past few years, but none have made it all the way through the legislative process.  

Pierson Materials Inc., Recycling Permit:   Pierson Materials, Inc. (formerly know as Mount Holly Concrete) filed an application with Burlington County to become a concrete recycling site.  Pierson Material's is located on the south side of Route 38 between the 541 By-Pass and Main Street next to the carpet outlet.  The application has to be approved by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  There was a public hearing on the permit request on February 25th.  Some residents including the mayor of Lumberton expressed opposition to any expansion of the facility.  They cited current problems with  noise levels, dust pollution and cement truck traffic from the facility.  A couple of the Freeholders also expressed their concerns.  Earlier this week, Pierson removed their application. 

Polling Place Change:  This year, the township is changing the voting location for districts 2 and 3 from the Southside Baptist Church to the Ashbrook School.  District 2 and 3 include Sunnybrook, Maple Grove, Lumberton Apartments and homes north of Route 38.   The school board is also moving the school elections from the Bobby's Run School to the Ashbrook School.   

I hope you enjoyed this issue.  Thanks again for your continued support.  Please don't miss the next issue which will focus on property taxes and why they are going up.

Sincerely,