Earle Controversy Nears Climax

by Tom Mongelli

Plans to place civilians in about 300 homes at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County appear nearly complete - but New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith is trying to convince Pentagon officials to consider a buyout.

Finalization of an environmental impact statement within a matter of weeks is all that remains before the for-rent signs can go up.

"This is no time to play 'chicken'," says the Fourth-District Republican about the longstanding agreeement that allows property owner Terry Fisher to place the mostly-unused housing on the market. Naval officials want to end years of paying for upkeep that has run into millions of dollars.

Smith contends that the Navy's plan to separate homes from sensitive base operations by a fence is risky in the post-9/11 era, and he has concerns about the potential tax bite area homeowners face to educate a larger number of children from families who move to the Laurelwood project. Municipalities can tax the buildings, but not the federally-owned land.

In a meeting at the Pentagon with acting Navy Secretary B.J. Penn, Smith says he brought up the fact that Ms. Fisher is willing to enter into buyout talks - and Penn was unaware of it.

"I asked Secretary Penn...has there been any effort to reach out to Terry Fisher, and the answer was 'no,'" Smith says. "I said, well, I'm asking you...reach out to her. They're willing to start the negotiations."

Smith says he wants a full cost estimate - including security expenses for the Navy, roadbuilding costs for Fisher, and associated local school expenditures - before any action is taken.

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