By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
The township has moved one step closer toward acquiring the 369-acre General Services Administration Belle Mead Depot, with Gov. Jon Corzine’s recent approval of the Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer (FOSET).
Federal law required that this document be approved by the governor to allow for the transfer of ownership of the GSA Depot to Hillsborough and Somerset County prior to the environmental remediation of the land. The township announced Friday that the approval had been granted earlier in the week.
”This is a great step, and we are very pleased,” Mayor Frank DelCore said.
In Gov. Corzine’s letter, which granted the approval, he said the site is suitable for the early transfer, and the township and county must complete the remediation to appropriate standards set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). In addition, he said, any restrictions will be enforced on the property to protect human health and the environment, among other conditions.
”I support the efforts of the (GSA), Somerset County and Hillsborough Township to return the depot to beneficial use, and agree with the GSA decision to complete the (deferral request) and transfer the depot to non-federal ownership,” Gov. Corzine said in the letter.
Next, the township must wait for the transfer of ownership approval from the Government Reform Committee of the United States House of Representatives. Mayor DelCore said he is not sure how long this process will take.
”We might have to work with Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th) to expedite the process,” he said.
Township Clerk Kevin Davis said that, according to the federal GSA, there is no expectation that the approval will not be granted.
”The federal government wants to get that remediation done,” Mayor DelCore said.
Once the township is able to “clear that hurdle,” Mayor DelCore said, they will be in a position to officially proceed with the closing on the property and move forward with the actual remediation.
”This is a fairly significant step,” he said.
The purchase will cost $15.735 million, all of which will be placed into two separate escrow accounts to be used for the environmental cleanup of the land.
The plans for the GSA Depot are to use about 321 acres for parks and recreation, with the remaining 48 acres to be used for research and development.

