Why the change in Stanhope?

Stanhope — Winners and losers in the recent election in Stanhope agree on one thing: the tiny borough isn’t necessarily a microcosm of the national Zeitgeist. Councilman-elect George Graham said in a recent telephone interview the success of the two Democrats may have had something to do with party, but much more to do with other issues. Outgoing Councilman Ray Wootten, a Republican, discounted any party-line voting. Both agreed with Graham’s running mate, Councilman-elect Mike DePew, that issues internal to the borough brought out a vote for change. Taxes are always an issue, both DePew and Graham noted, but all three men believe the real reason voters wanted a change can be traced to the borough’s plans for redevelopment of its industrial zone. Industry along the Musconetcong River corridor is such a part of Stanhope that the river, which divides the borough from sister municipality Netcong in Morris County, actually flows under two industrial buildings. One of those is the vacant Compac, which moved to Hackettstown two years ago and is the subject of a site plan for senior citizen condominiums. The other is Isolatek, very much alive and engaged in litigation against the borough to remove it from the redevelopment area. Long before the election, when the borough’s Land Use Board was considering naming a redevelopment zone, the number of people attending forced public hearings from the municipal building to the larger American Legion Hall on Route 183. A crowd of about 250 attended one meeting, using every chair the Legion has, according to Post Commander Carl Beale. Middle schoolers on a school assignment took notes as resident after resident spoke against the redevelopment plans for Isolatek and Salmon Brothers, another long-time borough business. Isolatek’s attorney, Robert Simon, brought in expert witnesses and reams of evidence that the company is profitable, non-polluting and committed to staying in the borough. The shadow over the hearings was a phrase spoken only by the opposition: eminent domain. It came on the heels of several well-publicized cases of private property being seized not for a reservoir or road project but for a private development considered more upscale than the existing use. Eminent domain became the buzzword of the day for residents afraid the borough’s contract with super-developer K. Hovnanian would spread from the Compac property, where senior citizen housing is planned. “They (K. Hovnanian) want the whole thing,” DePew said in a telephone interview after the election. “I’m not against redevelopment,” said DePew, who was present at those packed Land Use Board hearings. “If it were really just Compac and just senior citizens, it would be fine.” Wootten, the mayor’s representative on the Land Use Board, voted with the majority to create the zone. He said the only times the words “eminent domain” were used were when the public used them. The redevelopment is moving forward and the council is looking at plans, he added. The fact that the council was looking for senior housing is a plus for the residents, Wootten said, since the the schools require the most tax support, and the new development won’t add school children. Wootten pointed out Graham had been hired to create flyers explaining the redevelopment proposal. Wootten said he was surprised to see Graham come out on the other side of the issue. Graham denied he switched sides. He admitted he prepared the flyers about redevelopment, but said he didn’t put his own spin on them. He just used the information the borough gave him, as he does in his public relations business, he said. He said he favors redevelopment, but not eminent domain. Graham noted there were six candidates for three slots and Wootten, a 25-year councilman, didn’t really campaign, while he, Graham, knocked on doors all over the borough and listened to residents talk about taxes and other issues.