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Residents press Woodbridge leaders on Sunrise Village sale, taxes and Main Street vacancies
Summary
During public comment residents asked whether Sunrise Village has a certificate of occupancy, whether converting it to emergency housing reduces tax revenue, who the owners/partners are, and whether eminent domain or developer buyouts are appropriate uses of taxpayer funds; Mayor McCormick and directors responded with status updates and rationale.
Several residents used the council's public comment period to press elected officials for details about Sunrise Village, vacant Main Street properties and other local concerns.
Tom Maris asked whether a certificate of occupancy has been issued for Sunrise Village, how the property's change in tax status would affect town revenues, who the developers or partners are, and whether purchase documents are signed and available. He also asked whether a past lawsuit against the water company had been settled, whether recent state rule changes on scooters and bicycles affected the township's ordinance, and whether the township would challenge proposed state funding for legal assistance to undocumented immigrants.
Another speaker identified as Paul asked why the township was hiring special municipal prosecutors and public defenders at $400 per court session through the end of the year, and whether converting a property to permanent emergency housing amounted to a developer bailout. He asked whether the township would gain benefits beyond humanitarian ones and whether affordable-housing credit accounting had been preserved.
John Woodage asked about 73 Main Street and other vacant properties, whether the town knows ownership, and whether eminent domain would be used for public purposes or would be a poor use of taxpayer money.
Mayor John McCormick answered publicly, saying there is not yet a certificate of occupancy and there has been no closing on Sunrise Village. He called the potential tax revenue loss from a single building "immaterial" to the town's overall levy structure but said the town will pursue acquisition so properties are redeveloped rather than remain blighted. On affordable-housing credits, the mayor said the Sunrise Village purchase would yield existing credits (he said the project was to be market-rate housing and that the township would receive about 15% of the units as credits) and that the town could "bank" credits for future compliance. On the question of scooters and bicycles, Director Nitski said the relevant state changes take effect July 1 and the township is awaiting final state guidance. The mayor said the primary rationale for acquiring Sunrise Village is humanitarian: "We're just buying it because we want to do the right thing and provide housing for people in sudden emergencies," he said, and added the town expects to use the units for people released from hospitals or otherwise in immediate need.
On the PFAS-related litigation, the mayor said the township participated in a multi-town effort years ago but did not recall a final settlement and said no material funds had come to the township to his knowledge.
The council did not take formal action in response to the comments during the meeting; officials provided status information and said documents such as purchase agreements will be made public when available.
