Township Committee — February 9, 2026

The Township Committee’s minutes of this regular meeting, approved at its February 23 meeting, are on the Township’s Documents-On-Demand portal, linked from its Agendas/Minutes page, in the Township Committee and Board of Health minutes folder. Mayor James Schworn called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All five members were present: Mayor Schworn, Mr. Brendon Beatrice, Mr. Thomas Young, Mrs. Anna Columbus and Mr. David Owens. Also present were Township Administrator Gregory Bonin, Township Clerk Maggie Schmitt and Township Attorney William Willard. The minutes record 25 members of the public. There were no public comments, either on agenda items or in the general comment period.

Three affordable-housing ordinances introduced

The Committee introduced three ordinances, each read by title, with a public hearing date of March 9, 2026. For each, the minutes record that “all were in favor,” with all five members present.

• Ordinance No. 2026-1507, “Ordinance amending the Land Development Ordinance … to create and add a new ‘AH-8 — Route 22 Affordable Housing 8’ zone.” Mayor Schworn said it establishes the new zone in compliance with the Township’s Fourth Round affordable-housing obligations. Introduced on motion of Mr. Young, seconded by Mr. Owens.
• Ordinance No. 2026-1508, “Ordinance adopting ‘Amended Evans Way Redevelopment Plan’ for the property identified on the Branchburg tax map as Block 58, Lot 36, and Block 58.01, Lot 4, including portions of the Evans Way right of way adjacent thereto previously determined to be a non-condemnation redevelopment area.” Mayor Schworn said it amends the plan to accommodate inclusionary residential housing, also in compliance with the Fourth Round obligations. Introduced on motion of Mrs. Columbus, seconded by Mr. Young.
• Ordinance No. 2026-1509, “Ordinance repealing and replacing Article XIII ‘Affordable Housing’ and Article XIV ‘Development Fees’ of the Land Development Ordinance.” Mayor Schworn said it updates the affordable-housing and development-fee provisions; Mr. Willard said the State adopted new affordable-housing regulations and the two ordinances must be updated to match. Introduced on motion of Mr. Owens, seconded by Mr. Beatrice.

The ordinances as later filed with the court describe their content. Ordinance 2026-1507’s AH-8 zone, for the Vollers/Premier site, permits up to 250 multifamily apartment, townhouse and stacked-townhouse dwellings plus one special-needs group home, with 50 affordable credits (at least 46 affordable multifamily units and four special-needs bedrooms), a 10% minimum open-space area and 60% maximum impervious coverage. Ordinance 2026-1508’s amended plan permits up to 300 apartments and 100 townhouses on Block 58, Lot 36, with 80 affordable units (20% of each dwelling type), leaves Block 58.01, Lot 4 unchanged, contemplates a two-acre portion for future public use, and directed the Clerk to refer the ordinance to the Planning Board for master-plan consistency review.

Other business

Sitting as the Board of Health, the Committee heard Health Officer James Norgalis summarize the 2025 annual report of the Health Department: special projects, grant management, temporary food events and succession planning. Members discussed the report with him, including possible shared services with other municipalities.

On motion of Mr. Owens, seconded by Mr. Beatrice, the Committee approved Resolutions No. 2026-51 through 2026-55, with the January departmental reports. Recorded vote: 5–0 (Aye: Young, Columbus, Owens, Beatrice, Schworn). They were emergency temporary appropriations (2026-51, which requires a two-thirds vote of the full governing body), three personnel actions in Public Works and the Police Department, and a community garden refund. The claims for payment were approved on motion of Mr. Young, seconded by Mrs. Columbus, recorded vote: 5–0. The minutes of the January 26 regular session were approved.

Mayor Schworn invited Lorraine Steele of the Branchburg Education Foundation to describe its Kind-a-thon, which raises funds for the three Branchburg schools, and read a proclamation recognizing the students and teachers. Communications Committee Chair Bernie Rosario described the Haunted House contest, and the Mayor congratulated the winner, Maggie Dziamba (“Witchy Witch Watching You”).

In the Administrator’s report, Mr. Bonin said residents must sign up for the spring tree planting by February 15 and that Silver Saddle Community Pool registration would open soon. Asked about a water main break at Whiton School, he said it did not interrupt the school day. He said NJDOT is aware of long delays at the traffic signal at Old York Road and Route 22 and is exploring possible solutions; motorists were urged not to run the red light.

In liaison reports, Mr. Young said door-to-door solicitation requires a permit and residents may call the Police Department if they feel unsafe or encounter an unwelcome solicitor. He proposed a “No Knock” ordinance; Mr. Willard described its purpose and implications, and after a brief discussion it was determined that such an ordinance was not necessary at this time. The other members had no report. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

See Branchburg’s Fourth Round affordable-housing plan and Evans Way redevelopment.

Records

• Minutes and agenda: Agendas/Minutes page of the Township’s website, which links its Documents-On-Demand portal (Township Committee and Board of Health folder)
• Meeting video on the Township’s Granicus archive
• Ordinances 2026-1507 and 2026-1508 as filed with the court, March 13, 2026 (docket SOM-L-142-25)