By:John Tredrea
The Hopewell Township Committee decided June 15 to delay voting on an ordinance to authorize spending up to $927,000 to buy 60 acres and deed restrict it against development.
The land, described as a “gorgeous piece of property” by Committeewoman Kathy Bird-Maurice, is located at the intersection of Bear Tavern and Pennington-Harbourton roads in one of the most scenic areas of the 58-mile square township.
The committee decided to delay adoption of the ordinance, which was introduced on first reading by a 4-0 vote June 1, because money to fund the full purchase of the land is expected shortly from state government.
The township introduced the ordinance only because it would make money available to buy the land if the state money was delayed.
State government is fully committed to buying the land, owned by Bernard Fedor, said township attorney John Bennett, who is also majority leader of the New Jersey Senate, and Edmund Stiles, chairman of the township open space advisory board.
