One less development coming to West Windsor? One of the properties slated for potential development, the Thompson tract, may be off the list.
The township is poised to buy the land, said township land use planner Sam Surtees. “This 35-acre former farm property, which sits behind Kindercare on Rabbit Hill Road, was under a contractor agreement to build 16 single-family homes. However, the township has reached a preliminary agreement to purchase the land under its open space provisions, subject to town council approval.”
The land is currently owned by Princeton real estate broker Bryce Thompson. According to Surtees the cost of the purchase is $2.24 million, which does not include soft costs such as attorney fees and appraisals, nor does it include any open space money that the township will seek to recoup from the county.
Continued Surtees: “This acquisition was contemplated under the master plan. This property is one of three tracts that the township would like to purchase to eventually expand Community Park. The other two properties include a private residence and the gun club. Regardless of what happens with those two properties, the Thompson tract will be off the table for developers — it will become part of the township’s open space.”
Council Presiden`t Bryan Maher confirmed that an ordinance relating to the purchase will be introduced at the council meeting on Monday, July 14, followed by a public hearing at a future meeting.
“Members of the public and council members will have time to review it and potentially make comments or express concerns before we vote on it,” Maher said.
The Thompson site was one of the potential developments included in the WW-P school district demographic study, presented to the School Board at its January 29 meeting. Other scheduled developments included in the study were Princeton Terrace on Clarksville Road, which will contain 460 housing units when completed; and the proposed Transit Village at the train station.
#b#Attorney Update: Two Still Standing#/b#
Of the eight firms that responded to the request for a proposal for the West Windsor Township attorney position, one withdrew its application; and of the remaining seven, three were interviewed by the selection committee, and two finalists were picked. A source reports that they are Michael Herbert, whose firm has held the position for many years, and Roger McLaughlin, whose firm is the township attorney for Manalapan.
The finalists’ names and supporting information have been forwarded to Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, who has not been involved in the selection process. Hsueh may choose to interview the firms again. He then will forward his selection to the council for its advice and consent.
