County announces plan to buy section of depot

Roycefield Road site could be used by the county for future Public Works buildings.

By: Audrey Levine
   Somerset County is moving forward with plans to purchase a piece of land on Roycefield Road to possibly be used for future Public Works buildings.
   The county submitted an application for a subdivision, which would allow it to purchase a part of the U.S. General Services Administration site adjacent to already-owned county land on Roycefield Road, according to Bob Ringelheim, township attorney.
   "They have buildings there for Fire Department training and Public Works," he said, citing only a few of the resources available on the county property.
   The federal government owns the entire 161-acre GSA site, with 15.7 of the acres owned by the U.S. Postal Service, according to Tom Miller, attorney for Somerset County.
   "It is a small portion owned by them, but it is not separate from the land that belongs to the federal government," he said. "The U.S. Postal Service has agreed to sell us the property."
   Mr. Miller said the county would like to purchase that property on Roycefield Road because it is adjacent to land it already owns and use for a county garage and fire school. He said that, although the county does not have a definite plan yet for what to do with the property, it is looking at it as a future investment and a strategic property for Somerset County.
   "If we need to expand our operations, or build other buildings, it would be beneficial to have that area," he said.
   The property will cost $2.9 million, according to Mr. Miller.
   He said that because the property is located in Hillsborough, the county must get approval from the township before going ahead with the purchase. He presented the proposal to the Environmental Commission on Monday and will go before the Planning Board on Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal building on South Branch Road.
   Mr. Ringelheim said the property the county is looking to purchase is not connected to the Belle Mead GSA depot, which the township is currently in the process of purchasing.