Montgomery prepares to sign NPDC agreement

A first step toward purchase of property from state for $5.95 million

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — The Township Committee is poised to sign a memorandum of agreement with the state that will provide a framework for the purchase of the former North Princeton Developmental Center, now tentatively known as Skillman Village.
   The Township Committee is scheduled to meet 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in executive session to discuss negotiation of terms and conditions of the memorandum of agreement.
   Aside from some typographical errors and a couple of words that need to be changed, Mayor Louise Wilson said, all of the details seem to be in order.
   "We hope everybody will be comfortable with the agreement," she added, although "some of the terms still need to be discussed."
   The Township Committee, which was given the latest draft of the memorandum of agreement Dec. 13, will try to iron out all of the terms Wednesday. After the executive session, the committee could convene in public session and formally accept the memorandum of agreement.
   If the committee does accept the agreement, the next step would be to ensure the state signs it, as well. The committee hopes all of this can be done before the new administration of Gov.-elect Jon Corzine comes in after the new year begins, Deputy Mayor Karen Wintress said. If the state does sign the agreement, the next step after that would be to draw up the purchase agreement.
   If all goes well, Mayor Wilson said, the township may only be a few weeks away from officially acquiring the land from the state.
   "It is not totally under our control," the mayor said. "We hope it goes as quickly as possible, but there is another party involved" — the state, she said.
   If three members of the Township Committee do not find the memorandum of agreement acceptable, however, it will have to be renegotiated, and action involving the official acquisition will be further postponed.
   "We’re hoping there will be unanimous support," the mayor said, "that would be best."
   In July, the Township Committee approved two bond ordinances totaling $22.5 million that would include the purchase of the state-owned property, which the state Department of the Treasury agreed to sell to the township for $5.95 million. The balance would go toward environmental cleanup, the demolition of unusable buildings, the purchase of environmental insurance, the design of a redevelopment plan for the property and an upgraded sewage-treatment plant.
   The NPDC site, originally a self-sustaining village for epileptics, has been closed since 1998. It includes Village Elementary School and more than 100 abandoned buildings, 33 of which have been designated as worthy of being saved — and possibly redeveloped — under a tentative redevelopment plan discussed in November.
   As to redevelopment and eventual construction, the plan states possible projects could be for cultural areas, such as a theater, an ice-skating rink or a museum. Other possibilities are age-restricted housing; professional and medical facilities; retail stores and restaurants; offices; and a recreation facility, such as a YMCA.
   February’s township newsletter will include a survey asking residents whether they prefer "Skillman Village at Montgomery," "Montgomery Green" with some portion of the area also called "Skillman Village," or some other write-in suggestion for the name of the former NPDC property.