Planning Board Chairman Joyce Copleman said she was concerned about granting 20-year vesting rights to the site. Factoring in the applicant's ability to gain extensions to the approval totaling five years after the 20-year vesting expires, it means the company has a quarter of a century to develop the site, she said. Attorney Christopher Tarr, who represents Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., said he has represented clients who sought extensions of their approvals and those requests were denied. Under the state Municipal Land Use Law, an applicant can seek an extension of the original approval for one year at a time, up to five years. Mrs. Copleman told Mr. Tarr that in the 12 years she has served on the Planning Board, it has never turned down a request for an extension.
Some sites develop more slowly and some develop more quickly.
Planning Board Vice Chairman Tom Wilfrid said he felt comfortable with the 20-year vesting period. RCN could have developed the site in five years, if it had the financial capability, he said. It will be better for the township if the company does not rush to build, he said. The Princeton Packet, Inc.