MARLBORO — Municipal officials are moving forward with the purchase of additional open space. They are targeting property on Tennent Road in the hopes of eventually approving the construction of a solar energy facility at that location.
An ordinance permitting officials to move forward with the purchase of the property was adopted by the Marlboro Township Council on May 19.
Officials said 31 acres on the east side of Tennent Road north of Commercial Court is being looked at for open space preservation and recreation purposes. The purchase price for the property is $250,000, according to the ordinance.
Asecond ordinance to fund the purchase through surplus from the Marlboro water utility was also adopted. According to the ordinance, there are funds available in the water utility’s capital surplus account that can be used to purchase the property.
Atotal of $300,000 is being appropriated for the property acquisition and related capital improvements.
The council unanimously adopted both ordinances.
During Mayor Jonathan Hornik’s state of the municipality address on May 9, he described how the project will free up $1.4 million in New Jersey Green Acres funding that had previously been withheld from Marlboro on a technical issue.
Hornik said purchasing the Tennent Road parcel will allow officials to initiate the largest solar energy project in Marlboro’s history. He said the solar energy project could eventually generate almost $400,000 a year in revenue for the township.
Two resolutions related to the Tennent Road open space purchase were also approved after the council came out of its executive (closed) session during its May 5 meeting, when the ordinances and resolutions were introduced.
One resolution pertained to a professional services contract for appraisal services. The council approved a contract with Bettina Durmaskin Sholk, of East Brunswick, for real estate appraisal services for $3,500 for the preliminary appraisal.
Council members also authorized a contract with the township engineer, CME Associates, for preliminary assessments and environmental studies at the property.
The contract for CME Associates’ work is not to exceed $6,100. According to information from CME Associates, the Tennent Road property appears to be forested, but historically contained farm fields and orchards.
Both resolutions were approved in a 4-0 vote of support from council members Randi Marder, Frank LaRocca, Jeff Cantor and Carol Mazzola. Councilman Scott Metzger was absent from the May 5 meeting.