Impending acquisition includes all but about 20 acres of the 380 acres of the St. Michael’s tract, off the eastern side of Carter Road just south of Hopewell Borough
By John Tredrea
A major open space acquisition that would preserve 560 acres of Hopewell Township land near Hopewell Borough at a cost of about $8 million is on the verge of being completed, township Deputy Mayor Mark Iorio said Wednesday.
"We’re getting very close," Mr. Iorio said. "It could be a done deal in 30 to 45 days. It’s been in the works quite a while 12 to 18 months at least."
With the Delaware and Raritan Greenway acting as the lead agency, the impending acquisition includes all but about 20 acres of the 380 acres of the St. Michael’s tract, off the eastern side of Carter Road just south of Hopewell Borough.
Owned by the Diocese of Trenton, this land was home to St. Michael’s orphanage/school, which was closed and torn down in the 1970s after many years of operation.
In March, David Roskos, the Trenton-based attorney who represents the diocese, said the diocese wanted to keep a parcel of land for the planned St. Alphonsus Parish Center an idea first discussed locally in the summer of 2002. Diocese plans were to build a facility on 20 acres of the St. Michael’s tract. Mr. Roskos said Wednesday: "The commitment to St. Alphonsus remains the same."
The Hopewell Township Planning Board unanimously approved the minor subdivision (in the northwest corner of the tract) for the former orphanage/school property on July 23, 2002. Mr. Roskos was unable to say, in March, when that center might be built.
Mr. Iorio said the 20 acres of the St. Michael’s tract not earmarked for open space is near St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church, on Princeton Avenue in Hopewell Borough. (Carter Road becomes Princeton Avenue in the borough.)
"It would be a great acquisition, not only for the township but Hopewell Borough, because it’s so close to the borough," Mr. Iorio said. He noted that, since the land has been zoned Hamlet, it could conceivably be the site of considerable development someday if not preserved.
In addition to the D&R Greenway, which is a nonprofit, other agencies involved in the impending purchase are the state Green Acres program and the Mercer County Open Space Trust Fund.
Dennis Davidson, the D&R’s pointman on the project, could not be reached for details before press time.
Expected at Monday afternoon’s Township Committee agenda meeting, which begins at 5 p.m., is a vote on a resolution endorsing the acquisition. The resolution includes the stipulation that the township’s share of paying for the land "shall not exceed $808,000, representing 10 percent of the purchase price of the property," meaning the total cost is expected to be around $8,080,000.
The township would have to adopt an ordinance in order to pay its share, township Attorney Steve Goodell said during Monday night’s committee meeting. Under state law, a public hearing is required before the adoption vote on any municipal ordinance.
Over the past 20-plus years, Valley residents have strongly supported open space acquisitions in public meetings and by passing open-space tax questions.
Because the 560-acre deal is still in negotiation, officials would not say what property owners are involved in addition to the Diocese, which owns the St. Michael’s tract.