MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
Mayor Ed Trzaska
Deputy Mayor Rich Smith
Patricia Graham
Christine Madrid
Mark Conforti 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2017
Montgomery Adds 34 Acres to Open Space 
Part of Greenway along Rte. 518 Near Hopewell 
Montgomery Township is under contract to purchase a 34 acre property on the south side of Route 518, near the western border of Montgomery, between Hollow & Spring Hill Roads.

This property had been targeted for preservation on Montgomery's open space acquisition priority list for some time.  It is adjacent to other preserved open space and farmland and to other parcels the Township is targeting for preservation.  Montgomery is working to create a greenway to keep the viewshed open and rural along its "western gateway" - where motorists, walkers and cyclists enter the Township from Hopewell Township.


"The Township regularly reaches out to property owners about potential preservation, but when we see a 'for sale' sign on a property targeted for preservation in our Open Space Master Plan, we seize the opportunity," said Mayor Ed Trzaska.

The property owner is 901 Realty Associates, LLC, who have owned the land since 2001. The owners had plans to develop the property at some point in the future, but recently listed the property for sale.  The Township reached out to the property owner and was able to work out a deal. The purchase price is $1.1 million and there is an opportunity to cost-share on the acquisition with Somerset County. A portion of the land is in the sewer service area and likely could have been used for residential development.

"I am really proud of this deal.  The land was pursued by multiple other parties and if we didn't preserve it now, it would have been developed and its viewshed lost forever," added the Mayor. 

View looking  east towards 34-acre property now under contract. Photo taken from south of Rte. 518 between Spring Hill Rd. & Hollow Rd.
  
The frontage of the property on Route 518 blends a former farm field with many shrubs and red cedars and young saplings.  There are forested wetlands towards the rear of the property where a tributary to Bedens Brook forms the southern boundary line.

It is anticipated that the closing will take place in August or early September.

St. Johnswort is among wildflowers in bloom on the 34-acre tract Montgomery Township has contracted to purchase along Rte. 518 near Spring Hill Rd.



MONTGOMERY TWP. RECENT NEWS & EVENTS
 
Please be advised, Montgomery Township has received necessary tax figures from Somerset County and tax bills are being prepared for the second half of 2017. ... read more

Carrier Clinic Walk of Hope 9/16
Carrier Clinic, a nonprofit mental health and addiction recovery facility located in Belle Mead, NJ, will host its 7th Annual Walk of Hope on Saturday,... read more

Great Stream Exploration - Free Family Event
AUGUST 5 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Bessie Grover Memorial Park, 1 Camp Meeting Avenue, Skillman, NJ 08558 (near corner with Hollow Rd.) Join us... read more

Somerset County 4-H Fair - 8/9-8/11
August 9 - 11 10:00AM to 10:00PM daily North Branch Park (Milltown Road, Bridgewater) Free shuttles available at Raritan Valley Community College http://www.somersetcounty4h.org/fair/   Sampling... read more

Montgomery Community Night Aug. 4 @ Patriots
Join your Montgomery neighbors at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater! 2017  Montgomery Community Night @ Somerset Patriots Stadium (TD Bank Ballpark) Bring the family for... read more

School Supply Drive August 14 - 25
The Montgomery Township Food Pantry is getting ready for the Back-To-School season by holding a collection for new school supplies for Montgomery families using the... read more

NJDEP Guide: How to Help Monarch Butterflies Recover
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection has published a monarch butterfly conservation guide to educate the public about the insect's significant population decline and what... read more

Butterfly Festival August 12
The 2017 Watershed Butterfly Festival will be held on August 12 on the grounds of the 930 acre Stony Brook- Millstone Watershed Reserve. The Butterfly... read more

Farmers Market Saturdays Now to October
Every Saturday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Village Shopper Parking Lot The Farmers' Market is now in full swing, each Saturday from now until October... read more

First Sat. Recycling Drop-off Aug. 5
Somerset County residents are encouraged to take advantage of the next First Saturday of the Month Drop-off event on Aug. 5 from 8 a.m. to... read more

Friday's Movie Night a great success!
Thank you to all those who came out to our free outdoor movie offering, "Sing!" last Friday night 7/21! It was a great success and... read more
collection of food for Somerset County families and individuals in need will be held Friday, July 21. "July... read more

Police Press Release - 7/19/17
On Tuesday July 18, 2017 at 10:51 p.m., Montgomery Township Police arrested Sharika M. Hickmond of Lawrenceville, NJ. Hickmond was stopped for a motor vehicle... read more

Staying Safe During Summertime Heat
Exposure to excessive heat can cause illness, injury and death. Approximately 400 people die each year from exposure to heat due to weather conditions, and... read more

Carrier Clinic's Free Anxiety, Depression & Alcohol Screenings
July through December 2017 schedule is announced Carrier Clinic has announced free, confidential Anxiety and Depression Screenings and Alcohol Dependence Screenings through the end of... read more


LIKE OR FOLLOW MONTGOMERY TWP:

Frequently Used Phone Numbers

Main Offices : 908-359-8211
Police (Emergency) : 9-1-1 or 908-359-3222
Recreation : 609-466-3023  
Rec Sports Field Hotline:  800-731-8412
Senior Center : 609-466-0846
Food Pantry : 609-466-1054
Dept. of Public Works : 908-874-3144
Kid Connection : 908-359-2111

Please note that email correspondence with the Township is a public record and may be subject to disclosure under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act.