Fox Hollow and the Readington sewer connection

The Fox Hollow matter ties a 1980 court settlement to a present-day proposal: homes in Readington Township that would send sewage through Branchburg’s system, in exchange for limits on the Branchburg side of the golf-course property.

1980. Branchburg and Fox Hollow Enterprises, Inc. settled two pending Superior Court actions — Fox Hollow Enterprises, Inc. v. Township Committee of the Township of Branchburg, docket L-55046-77, and Fox Hollow Enterprises, Inc. v. Laurita Gabree, docket L-48938-78 — by a Stipulation of Settlement dated Apr. 21, 1980. It defined the Branchburg portion as Block 5, Lot 2 and the Readington portion as Block 15, Lot 28; capped a “Readington Development” at 200 units with continued golf use; zoned the Branchburg portion for single-family homes on lots no larger than one acre, excluding townhouses and cluster development; and provided sewer access — first to the Brandywine pumping station, or, if an agency denied that, to the Township’s Fox Hollow sewerage plant — with the developer paying connection and expansion costs. Upon the first sewer connection, the Branchburg parcel would be limited to golf use or an open natural preserve, with development rights conveyed to the Township. The settlement recites dismissal of the suits by consent order; LocalWhy has not reviewed the order itself. Counsel’s Apr. 22, 1980 letter says Ordinance 80-372, carrying the settlement’s zoning, was adopted the previous evening.

2020. Resolution 2020-177, adopted Aug. 10, 2020, authorized a Sewer Service MOU with FH Golf Partners, LLC, which the resolution describes as successor in interest to Fox Hollow Enterprises and owner of the golf-course property in Branchburg and Readington. The MOU, dated Dec. 7, 2020, covers a 240-unit proposal — 192 age-restricted active-adult market-rate units and 48 family affordable units — with a flow cap of 60,000 gallons per day average daily flow over any 30-day period, developer-funded sewer improvements including lines to Manhole 1873 and Brandywine Pump Station upgrades, and approvals required from SRVSA, Bridgewater, Somerset County and NJDEP (including a Water Quality Management Plan amendment). The MOU provides for donation of the Branchburg portion, valued at $2,300,000 for donation purposes, under listed triggers, and values the pump-station upgrades at an estimated $615,000 in the attached Mott MacDonald report of July 29, 2020. The 2020 MOU recites a Township study finding insufficient present conveyance capacity, with capacity to be created by the improvements.

2023. Resolution 2023-216, adopted Oct. 9, 2023 (roll call, as visually checked: Young, Schworn, Beatrice and Owens yes; Columbus absent), authorized an extension replacing the MOU’s original 2022, 2023 and 2025 deadlines with Dec. 31, 2026 for sewer-improvement permits and approvals, Dec. 31, 2027 for Readington development approvals, and Dec. 31, 2030 for completed, connected improvements. The extension’s handwritten execution date is not legible in the scan.

2025. A May 15, 2025 mayor’s letter and a Township FAQ state the developer still needs approvals from NJDEP, SRVSA and Bridgewater; that Branchburg’s agreements require consent and cooperation but do not guarantee outcomes or let Branchburg override other agencies; and that the Township would oppose a septic or small-scale wastewater facility on the Branchburg portion. The letter states SRVSA, which serves seven towns, is nearing capacity, faces PFAS and microplastic treatment mandates, and could face $100–$200 million in modernization costs.

SRVSA. The Committee appointed Michael Pappas to the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority on Jan. 5, 2026, for five years to Dec. 31, 2030 (5–0), and Reinhard Pratt on Feb. 23, 2026, for a five-year term expiring Jan. 31, 2031 (4–0). On May 11, 2026, Mr. Young said he had met with Mr. Pratt, the Township’s SRVSA representative, about SRVSA capacity expansions and capital improvements, and that the Finance Committee should meet with SRVSA’s Executive Director about them and their possible financial impact.

2026: litigation and the plan amendment. At the July 13, 2026 Committee meeting, the Committee met in executive session; Mayor Schworn then stated that it had discussed “litigation that has been initiated by FH Golf Partners, LLC regarding sewer access for a proposed development in Readington Township, along with the Township’s support for the NJDEP Water Quality Management Plan amendment.” The Committee adopted Resolution 2026-143, “Resolution Supporting and Consenting to Proposed Upper Raritan Water Quality Management Plan Amendment,” on motion of Mr. Owens, seconded by Mr. Young, 5–0 (Aye: Young, Columbus, Owens, Beatrice, Schworn). The minutes also give the number 2026-143 to the motion to enter executive session that night. The minutes do not name the court or docket or describe the claims.

What residents can do. Read the Township’s Fox Hollow page, which points to its Fox Hollow documents: the settlement, the 2020 resolution and MOU, the 2023 extension and the May 2025 letter and FAQ; request the MOU’s quarterly project updates from the Township Clerk; and speak at Township Committee meetings (second and fourth Mondays, 7 p.m.).