Mayor Vanessa Sandom estimated the township would receive $2.1 million from the state for the development rights to 170 acres of the Martin tract
By John Tredrea
The development rights for over half of the Martin tract, purchased by Hopewell Township in 2004 to be preserved as open space, can be sold to the state Agricultural Development Committee under a resolution passed unanimously by the Township Committee Monday night.
Mayor Vanessa Sandom estimated the township would receive $2.1 million from the state for the development rights to 170 acres of the Martin tract. The 170 acres are farmland and an adjoining pond. The remaining 85 acres of the tract are woodlands and are unaffected by the sale of the 170 acres to the state, but still would be preserved in their natural state.
The Martin tract is in the east-central section of the township, near Bayberry Road and the Elm Ridge Park development.
If the sale goes through as expected within the next few weeks, the township would retain ownership of the 170 acres, but having sold the development rights means it would be permanently deed-restricted against development. The 170 acres can be used as farmland and the township would be able to rent or lease it for that purpose.
IN OTHER BUSINESS Monday night, the committee voted unanimously to pass a resolution backing the state Department of Transportation’s (DOT) recommendation to prohibit left turns at all times at the intersection of Diverty Road and Route 31. Left turns would be prohibited both in and out of Diverty Road if the recommended change is enacted. There also would be no left turns in or out of the commercial access drive directly opposite Diverty Road.
Diverty Road intersects Route 31 midway between the Pennington Circle and I-95. Many accidents, including several head-on collisions, have occurred on this stretch of road over the years, the resolution notes. Several accidents have resulted in fatalities. The resolution also notes that, during meetings last year with township and DOT officials, Diverty Road residents supported the left-turn prohibitions addressed in the resolution, which will be sent to the DOT.
Four lanes wide with no median, very narrow shoulders and several hills and curves, the portion of Route 31 between the circle and interstate has long been regarded as the Valley’s most hazardous stretch of roadway by far.