Marlboro officials will have a redevelopment study conducted on the former Entron property on Route 79 to determine if the site meets the necessary criteria to be deemed an area in need of redevelopment.
During their March 19 meeting, the members of the Marlboro Township Council passed a resolution authorizing Marlboro’s planner, Heyer, Gruel and Associates, to undertake a study to determine if the Entron property meets the standards to be considered an area in need of redevelopment.
If the Entron property is found to meet the criteria of an area in need of redevelopment, the planning firm will develop a redevelopment plan for the space.
The professional services contract between Marlboro and the firm states that Heyer, Gruel and Associates will receive a rate of $135 per hour, with a total not to exceed $38,000. Funds will be available for this purpose in the 2009 municipal budget, according to the resolution.
The Entron industrial site is at Route 79 and Beacon Hill Road and has been included in Marlboro’s affordable housing plan with 200 market-rate housing units and 50 affordable housing units. Residents have objected to the inclusion of the Entron property in the affordable housing plan.
Mayor Jonathan Hornik told the News Transcript that having the Entron property looked at as a possible site in need of redevelopment does not affect the affordable housing plan that was submitted to the state Council on Affordable Housing.
The mayor said having the study conducted will provide Marlboro officials with more control as to the development of the property.
“The biggest advantage you have in an area being designated as an area in need of redevelopment is that you can enter into an agreement with an owner with respect to taxes, called a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program,” Hornik said.
The PILOT program could have financial benefits to the township, the mayor explained.
“That is something we believe is to the advantage of Marlboro residents,” Hornik said.

