By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
A possible purchase of the Skillman Village property by the county became more than idle speculation Wednesday night as the Somerset County Open Space Advisory Committee responded favorably to a presentation by Montgomery Township officials.
Last month, Committeeman Mark Caliguire contacted Freeholder Director Peter Palmer, suggesting the possibility of the county purchasing the 256-acre property as open space to create a south county park.
”I believe it’s a phenomenal property for our Open Space Program,” said Rick Fontana, deputy freeholder director and liaison to the committee. The committee reviews applications and makes recommendations on purchases to the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Jules Lobai, committee member and vice chairman of the county Planning Board, said the land would be an asset to the county if left undeveloped.
”I suspect everyone would be pleased if it remained open space,” he said.
Mr. Lobai praised the quality and the size of the site.
”It has environmental features that we don’t have up here,” Mr. Lobai said, referring to the northern part of the county.
The township purchased the property, formerly known as the North Princeton Developmental Center, from the state in 2006 after years of negotiations. Over $20 million has been spent by the township purchasing and cleaning up the site.
The site became a heated issue recently as three developers tapped by the township failed to submit proposals for the 40-acre, mixed-use portion of the property.
Kacey Dyer, who suggested the purchase to Mr. Caliguire, a fellow Republican, and ran for a seat on the Township Committee, has called her election a “referendum on Skillman Village.” Her Democratic opponent, Keith Hovey, has not conceded the election, however.
Township officials were invited by Mr. Palmer to send information about the property to the county, and met with the committee Wednesday night to explore a possible purchase deal.
Mr. Caliguire as well as fellow committee member Louise Wilson, administrator Donato Nieman, and Planning Director Lori Savron presented details on the property to the committee. Mr. Caliguire and Ms. Wilson formed a subcommittee at the request of Mayor Cecilia Birge to represent the township’s interests in a possible partnership with the county on the property.
Ms. Wilson said the township would consider different “models of partnership” with the county.
”We don’t have a formal proposal,” Ms. Wilson said to the committee.
The township is open to a future for the property that is not what was originally envisioned, Mr. Caliguire said.
”In short, the project has changed,” he said. “The economy has changed, a lot of things have changed.”
Mr. Fontana interrupted the presentation to ask if a “zero density” development situation would be acceptable to the township.
”That all depends on what the county is willing to do,” Ms. Wilson replied, adding that she would like to see the property as a “special community gathering place,” which could be a park.
Mr. Caliguire said he would like to see minimal development on the property.
”My goal has been to do as little on this property as possible, mindful of economics,” Mr. Caliguire said.
Ms. Wilson said she would still like to see certain features, such as a veteran’s memorial, still included in plans for the site.
”I personally would hope that’s not inconsistent with the rest of the property being a park,” Ms. Wilson said. Mr. Fontana said a master plan including these features would be possible.
But the purchase of the site could have some downsides for the township. A lack of development would mean that the township would have to find a new location for 85 affordable units that were slated for the 40-acre mixed use portion of the site, Ms. Wilson said.
After the discussion, several committee members asked what the next step would be for the county to pursue the purchase. The committee then went into closed session to discuss its recommendation to the freeholders.
Before the meeting Wednesday, Mr. Palmer reiterated the board’s interest in the property, particularly due to its large acreage.
However, he cautioned that the pace of the deal, if the freeholders decide to go ahead with it, depends on land appraisals.
”This is the beginning of the process, not the end,” he said.

