By: Michelle McGuinness
CHESTERFIELD The Township Committee is hoping to close at the end of August or beginning of September on two properties, one of which could become the location for a new elementary school.
The committee held a special meeting on July 12 to examine funding options for the acquisitions.
Combined, the two properties would cost about $3 million, according to township officials.
The 27-acre Wilkinson property alone would cost about $1.5 million, Deputy Mayor Larry Durr said.
The Wilkinson site off Old York Road is where the township hopes a new elementary school will be built, if voters approve $37 million in spending for the new school in a referendum on Dec. 11.
If the referendum is approved, and if Chesterfield purchases the Wilkinson property, the school would be built on 9 acres of the site. The remaining 18 acres would be used for recreation, which would be open to the public except during school hours, Mr. Durr said.
He said the 65-acre Fuchs property also would be used for recreation. One parcel of the property is located along Bordentown-Chesterfield Road and another is located along Fenton Lane. The property would cost the township $1.67 million, according to township officials.
"There’s a possibility the school could go there if we need it," Mr. Durr said. He called the Fuchs property a "backup" if the deal for the Wilkinson property falls through.
Mr. Durr said funding for both properties will come partly from Green Acres, a state program that provides funding for open spaces such as parks and recreational areas.
In order for Chesterfield to qualify for funding from Green Acres, he said, it had to put money in its budget specifically for preserving open space.
Township Solicitor John Gillespie said Green Acres will cover about 50 percent of the cost for both properties individually. The county and the township will each pay 25 percent of the costs, though the township will have to put up the county’s 25 percent initially.
Mr. Durr said the township will fund the projects through its general fund, which will leave the committee the option of using bonds later if it needs to.
Mr. Durr said the process has taken a long time and he’s hoping that they can purchase the Wilkinson and Fuchs property quickly to speed up things.
"It’s like speeding it up after a long delay," he said.
Mr. Durr said the delay is no one’s fault in particular, but with the referendum for the new school approaching in December, the committee needs to purchase land soon.
"There needs to be some certainty," he said. "Somewhere we’re going to need a school."
Mr. Durr said the committee plans to have a public hearing about the land acquisition July 26.
He said the Wilkinson property will be purchased by Chesterfield LLC, but the township will "step into their shoes" and assume Chesterfield LLC’s contract to buy the property.
Chesterfield LLC offered a higher price for the Wilkinson property than the township has, but will make up the difference in price, Mr. Durr said.
Mr. Gillespie said the township could close on the properties in the first or second week in September, or perhaps even by the end of August.
However, even if the properties are purchased, whether a new elementary school is built will depend on what voters decide Dec. 11 when they vote on a referendum regarding the school.
There will be two questions on the ballot, the first asking voters to approve building a new school in the district, and the second asking voters to approve expanding the gymnasium of that school.
According to board Secretary Louise Zoilkowski, the proposed cost of the new school will be $36,338,331. The cost of the larger gymnasium will be an additional $970,611, Ms. Zoilkowski added.

