MARLBORO — Municipal officials are asking for shared jurisdiction with the state of the 400-acre property on Route 520 near Conover Road that formerly housed the Marlboro State Psychiatric Hospital.
A resolution on the matter passed unanimously at the Township Council’s Sept. 25 meeting.
At a previous meeting Councilman Frank LaRocca noted that Marlboro police do not have jurisdiction at the hospital property. He said if a trespassing incident occurs on that land the New Jersey State Police must respond to Marlboro.
The psychiatric hospital opened in 1931 and eventually housed about 800 patients, according to a history of the facility provided in Marlboro’s redevelopment plan for the land. The hospital was closed by the state in July 1998 as mental health professionals sought to move patients out of institutions and into community settings.
Marlboro officials have tried since then without success to buy the hospital property from the state.
The dilapidated buildings on the hospital grounds have become the subject of trespassing and vandalism, according to the council’s resolution. Because the state police have jurisdiction over the property, local law enforcement officers are not able to assist in the prevention of problems at the site or the punishment of perpetrators.
The council’s resolution states that in the interest of safety the township is seeking an agreement for shared jurisdiction.
Council Vice President Steve Rosenthal asked when Marlboro police would have access to the site and when state police would have access.
LaRocca said those details would be worked out during the course of forming the official agreement with the state.
Township Attorney Jonathan L. Williams said it would most likely take a while for the state to draw up an agreement with the municipality.
At the Sept. 25 council meeting, Mayor Jonathan Hornik announced that following a meeting with New Jersey’s deputy treasurer, Marlboro will have a six-month exclusive period in which to negotiate with the state and plan a future use for the parcel. The six-month period will begin on Oct. 6.
In July a redevelopment plan for the site was unveiled, which prohibits using the hospital land for housing. In the redevelopment plan, the goal set forth is to preserve the non-disturbed portion of the property and to limit the use of the “disturbed areas” to public and/or nonprofit community facilities.
Monmouth County is anticipated to acquire about 200 acres in the southern and southwestern portions of the hospital property, the plan states. The county has proposed walking and biking paths to be used to connect open space opportunities, including a link to the Henry Hudson Trail, which is adjacent to the western boundary of the hospital tract.
Permitted uses in the “disturbed areas” of the hospital property would include health clubs, fitness centers, spas, wellness centers operated by nonprofit entities, indoor recreation facilities, child care facilities, adult daycare facilities, educational facilities, and municipal and public use buildings including community centers, theaters and municipal offices.
Conditional uses for small wind energy systems and solar energy facilities would be allowed at the site.
Contact Rebecca Morton at marlboro@
gmnews.com.