By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — Three developers will be sitting down with Montgomery Township officials in the coming weeks to discuss redevelopment plans for Skillman Village, Township Administrator Donato Nieman said at the committee meeting Thursday night.
Last month, the developers — Tarragon Development Corp., Sharbell Development Corp. and Back to Nature — failed to submit proposals for the 40-acre, mixed-use portion of the site, a significant setback for Montgomery officials.
The site is considered crucial to recouping some of the $20 million the township has spent on redeveloping the 260-acre property, which was purchased by the township last year.
The developers have backed off because of the downturn in the economy, Mr. Nieman said.
”All of (the developers) said right now that they’re interested, but the economy is in such a state that they’re not going to pursue something at this moment,” he said, adding that each developer will propose a different approach to the redevelopment.
A subcommittee was formed consisting of Mayor Cecilia Birge and committee member Louise C. Wilson, Mr. Nieman said. The subcommittee will hold “informational” meetings with the developers, said Mr. Nieman, who will also attend.
The first meeting with Back to Nature was held Monday, which Mayor Birge characterized as a “constructive conversation.”
”It went very well,” Mr. Nieman said. “A lot of things were discussed.”
Downplaying troubles with the economy and developers, the mayor said it is not “panic time,” and the township planned for the worst from the beginning by being prepared to take on the debt of the project.
”I think it’s important that we remain focused on the vision that the community laid out and figure out what the best way to proceed and best way to protect taxpayers,” she said.
The remaining meetings with the other two developers have not yet been scheduled, Mr. Nieman said.
The mayor said a lot more work has to be done, but the next step will be for the developers to submit proposals. She anticipates that the subcommittee will bring the information they gathered from the developers back to the Township Committee and Skillman Village steering committee in late December or early January.
”As a community, we will draw a conclusion that we feel is balanced,” Mayor Birge said.
Currently, the township has its focus away from the Skillman Village project, she said, with most of its resources devoted to meeting the Dec. 31 deadline for new regulations for the Council on Affordable Housing.
The township is involved in two legal challenges to the new regulations, which generally call for municipalities to double their affordable housing obligations.

