The General Rallies the Troops at Princeton
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Posted on 07/25/2012 9:38:25 AM PDT by Pharmboy
The Princeton Battlefield Society has filed an appeal of the Princeton Regional Planning Board’s decision to allow the Institute for Advanced Study to build faculty housing on a part of the battlefield known as Maxwell’s Field on Friday, and is also seeking funds to support the society’s fight.
According to the society, the proposed development area of the battlefield is believed to be the site of a winning counterattack lead by George Washington during the Battle of Princeton.
The appeal includes 12 counts that challenge the Planning Board’s decision.
”The Planning Board failed numerous times to properly support its decision with proper findings of fact,” said PBS’s attorney, Bruce Afran. “We vigorously disagree with the Planning Board’s decision to allow this 15-unit development to move forward.”
According to Bill Spadea, a member of the Princeton Battlefield Advisory Board, during the overnight of January 2-3, 1777, George Washington led an army of patriots from Trenton on a march in an attempt to outflank the far superior British Army by attacking the garrison in Princeton.
According to Mr. Spadea, upon arrival, a portion of Washington’s army was routed by the British. In response, Washington personally led his army on a successful counterattack, which swept the British from the field. According to the society, the site where the institute wants to build is the site of that counterattack.
The society holds that the battle was Washington’s first victory over British regulars, and served as a crucial turning point in the War for Independence. It thinks the Battle of Princeton established George Washington as a master strategist and a revolutionary leader while inspiring Americans everywhere to challenge the British.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation also named Princeton Battlefield to its list of 11 most endangered historic places for 2012 on June 6, 2012.
”This designation not only recognizes that the Princeton Battlefield is the site of a seminal Revolutionary War battle, but it also recognizes that, in fact, the heart of that battle was on property next to the battlefield park that the IAS intends to develop for faculty housing,” said Kip Cherry, the first vice president of the society.
Despite these claims regarding historical importance, the Planning Board unanimously approved the 15-unit housing development plan in March.
”The appeal asserts that the Planning Board’s approval violates the E-2 Zoning limitations defined in the 1992 settlement between the township and the IAS, which does not permit cluster housing,” Mr. Afran said. “And in any event, the Planning Board’s findings violated the Municipal Ordinance’s requirements for cluster housing by not meeting the requirements for an ‘As of Right Plan’.”
According to Mr. Afran, an “As of Right Plan” is a conceptual site layout that must meet zoning requirements, in this case one acre lots that are not encumbered by buffers or setbacks or other lot use limitations.
PBS said the appeal also states that the Planning Board failed to make findings of fact as to unrefuted evidence of the presence of wetlands on the site, and its conclusion that the proposed development will not impact wetlands is arbitrary and unreasonable.
According to Mr. Afran, the appeal also disagrees with the Planning Board’s acceptance that the historic and archeological features of the site would be protected.
According to Mr. Spadea, PBS is also challenging whether the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission should grant the privilege of using buffer averaging for the project. In doing so, the DRCC will be giving up wetlands and woods that would fall within the buffer area and would be destroyed by the development, degrading the quality of water flowing into Stony Brook, he said.
Mr. Spadea also said PBS is pursuing protection for unreported wetlands through Federal Court under the Clean Water Act.
Additionally, PBS said it is objecting to the construction of one and possibly two force mains across the site of the counterattack.
”Our most immediate concern right now is that important artifacts will be destroyed during the process of this construction,” said Ms. Cherry. “I can’t imagine that any archaeologist would say that the monitoring plan that the IAS is using is the same as a full archaeological investigation.”
In order to successfully fight its legal battle and preserve the battlefield, PBS is seeking support and funds. It has sent email encouraging people to spread the word and donate whatever they can afford.
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...
We can build housing for the (most likely idiotic, left-wing) faculty in a thousand other places—but NOT on one of the most historic sites in the country.
Yep...exactly right. I know that area (since I have made several trips to the battlefield) and there is plenty of land that would be very close to where they want to build this housing that would do perfectly well and not disturb the history of our Founding.
You got that right.
Disgusting libs.
From my son, Bill Spadea. His latest letter to his financial backers to preserve this unique place in American history
"The Fight to Preserve Princeton Battlefield Enters Critical Stage"
"For the past eight years I've been proud to serve as a trustee for the Princeton Battlefield Society and help further the cause of historical preservation. Now as a member of the Advisory Board, my support for historical preservation continues. As many of you know, our organization has fought to preserve a critical portion of the battlefield, known as Maxwell's Field, which is threatened by a new housing development proposed by the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). Although over the years we've had some small victories and some setbacks, today we're poised to make the final case for preservation and save this critical piece of American history."
During the overnight of January 2-3, 1777, George Washington led his rag-tag army of patriots from Trenton on a daring all-night march in an attempt to outflank the far superior British army by attacking the garrison in Princeton. Upon arrival, a portion of Washington's army was routed by the British. In response, General Washington personally led his army on a successful counterattack, sweeping the British from the field. It was his first field victory over British regulars and served as a crucial turning point in the War for Independence."
It should be noted also that the first United States Marine Corps combat death occurred at the Battle of Princeton!
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Thanks Pharmboy. |
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This is sad.
There isn’t too much left of the battle as is (although I’m glad there are monuments and the house and so on). I’m appalled as it is that they have an open “park” where people can mess around on the mass graves of English soldiers.
Speaking of environmental whacko-ness, down the street is Monmouth. There, there is a nice walking bridge over the creek down the hill from the visitor center. That bridge was held up for years IIRC because I think a kind of frog was living there that they did not want disturbed. In any case, it was because of some damn creek animal. Meanwhile, our RevWar history suffers for lack of memorialized sites.
"..."There is no doubt as to the centrality of this piece of land to the Battle of Princeton," Afran said. "The right flank of Washington's counterattack took place on this piece of land. A battle has two flanks, so half of this battle took place on this parcel."
"The remnants of the battle are still there: artillery shells that were fired into the banks and grapeshot cannisters stuck into the muddy declivity. When the institute first began its plan, the archaeology hadn't been done to reveal this evidence."
"In addition, the first marine killed in battle lost his life at the Battle of Princeton, according to Jerry Hurwitz, the president of the Princeton Battlefield Society. It also marked Washington's first victory over a British regiment -- he had only previously beaten Hessian soldiers."
"It destroyed the mythology that the British were invincible" Hurwitz said. "He made them panic. He changed the whole mentality. Suddenly he's a threat. He put them on a defensive posture. Now they weren't so sure. It changed the psychology of the war."
"This is probably the most important remaining battlefield parcel in the United States," Afran said. "It's inconceivable to me that an academic institution is trying to close its eyes to history."
"Would you build faculty housing at Gettysburg?" Hurwitz added..."
Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
But the outcome of this fight is in no way settled. The Institute is filled with foreigners who do not give a crap about our sacred heritage. They take our money and live the good life here and expect to treated like some kind of elites. Make no mistake, this is a cultural thing. They think we are rubes clinging to our traditions and old fashioned ideas of respect for our ancestors who created this country that they now so cleverly exploit. They sicken me. Frankly, I'd zone code their ass out of existence if I could!!
I don’t know who the members of the Plannning Board are, but if they’ve been educated in the public schools over the last 35 years, they probably don’t even know who George Washington was. sarc/off
The members of the planning board are listed on the following page as well as contact information for staff:
REGIONAL PLANNING BOARD OF PRINCETON
400 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Lee O. Solow, Planning Director
Ilene Cutroneo, Assistant to the Planner
Office e-mail: RPBP@princeton-township.nj.us
office phone: 609-924-5366
office fax: 609-688-2032
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