| Centenary
College Withdraws Request for Hackettstown Property
Sept. 30 Hearing Cancelled
(03/132) TRENTON -The
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is canceling
its final public hearing on a proposed sale of land in Hackettstown
to Centenary College, because the college today officially
withdrew its application to purchase the property.
Centenary previously had asked the DEP
to consider selling up to 42 acres of the department's Hackettstown
fish hatchery for use as college athletic fields. Public
comment has been overwhelmingly against the sale, and the
New Jersey Fish and Game Council voted unanimously last
week not to support the sale.
"The college's wise decision to withdraw
its application reflects appropriate consideration for the
concerns of Hackettstown residents regarding traffic and
access issues and acknowledges the importance of preserving
this historic hatchery," said Joanna Dunn Samson, DEP
deputy commissioner.
"In addition to strong public opposition,
the Fish and Game Council had a number of serious environmental
concerns about the proposed use, including potential affects
to operations of the Hackettstown fish hatchery. It also
made no sense to sell the only land the hatchery had for
future expansion," said Scott Ellis, chairman of the
New Jersey Fish and Game Council. "This is good news
not just for the surrounding community, but also for New
Jersey anglers."
The third and final public hearing on the
proposed sale had been scheduled for Sept. 30. That hearing
is cancelled.
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