Open space and farmland

The Planning Board reviewed Ord. 4517-26, the Council's update of the cluster subdivision rules that came out of the 2026 Master Plan re-examination; the agenda marks the item "APPROVED". The Council adopted the ordinance six days later. Draft minutes of this meeting are not yet posted.

With six members present, the Council adopted the $1,380,000 Catalpa Park open-space ordinance 6-0 and introduced Ord. 4520-26, a PILOT financial agreement for the CWP-ASR Somerset project at 260 Davidson Avenue, 5-0. Five residents raised leaks and water pressure after the King Road and Cedar Brook Drive water main work, and seven spoke on the Flock cameras.

The Council approved a $500,000 settlement with Transco over the federal condemnation of an access easement for Compressor Station 206, on land whose development rights the Township holds, plus $100,000 for a community benefit program, 9-0. It awarded the Catalpa Park construction contract and introduced a $1,380,000 open-space ordinance for the park. Eight of 15 speakers addressed the Flock license-plate cameras.

The Council adopted Ords. 4509-26 and 4510-26, which follow the 2026 master plan reexamination, and the ordinances to acquire 287 Cedar Grove Lane for open space with $5,460,000 from the Open Space Trust Fund, each 8-0 with Mr. Singh absent. It introduced a replacement cannabis ordinance with lower license fees and a new short-term rental chapter. In Public Discussion, Coppermine Road residents raised noise, parking and septic capacity at short-term rentals, and two cannabis cultivators objected to the proposed license fee.

The Council adopted the Collins Property open-space ordinances, 9-0, and introduced ordinances to acquire 287 Cedar Grove Lane for open space with $5,460,000 from the Open Space Trust Fund. The consent agenda approved a conservation partnership with the Land Conservancy of New Jersey for the Kerani property ($1,380,000) and a $168,204.10 Route 27 resurfacing contract. A Planning Board alternate nomination was tabled, 7-2.

With five members present, the Planning Board found Ord. 4509-26 (re-examination recommendations) not inconsistent with the Master Plan and approved Ord. 4510-26 (planning and zoning fees), each 5-0, and memorialized the County of Somerset's Canal Road open-space subdivision. It sent the Council draft changes to the cluster subdivision rules, 5-0; they became Ord. 4517-26.

The Council adopted Ord. 4507-26, the B-I zone ordinance limiting warehouses and removing data centers as a permitted use, 6-3, after a hearing with ten speakers. It introduced Ords. 4509-26 and 4510-26 on the 2026 master plan reexamination and the Collins Property open-space purchase, and approved a cost-share to preserve the Horses and Hay Farm. Residents presented a petition for safety measures on Beekman Road.

The Council adopted the CY2026 municipal budget as amended, 9-0, with $75,455,645.64 in appropriations and $41,722,842.00 to be raised by taxation for municipal purposes. Five residents spoke, among them one thanking the Council for limiting warehouses and banning data centers. The consent agenda carried a $325,000 guiderail repair contract and final change orders on water main and resurfacing work.

The Council introduced Ord. 4507-26, the B-I zone ordinance setting limits on warehouses, 6-0 with three members absent, after six residents spoke on warehouses and truck traffic. It adopted the 2026 general and water-utility bond ordinances, a $293,500 Open Space Trust Fund ordinance and a CAP bank ordinance, and awarded a $2,697,496 water-main replacement contract.

The Planning Board approved, 6-0, the County of Somerset's subdivision of 1452 Canal Road, which lets the County preserve about 23.9 acres as open space. In a work session it reviewed a draft ordinance carrying out the first recommendations of the 2026 Master Plan re-examination, the draft that became Ord. 4509-26.

The agenda for the CY2026 municipal budget introduction, with a hearing set for May 26: a CAP bank ordinance (4502-26), the budget self-examination resolution and the introduction resolution, plus the 2026 general and water-utility bond ordinances and a $293,500 open-space ordinance on first reading. No minutes are posted, so no votes are reported here.

The Planning Board carried the Concore Realty warehouse application at 403 Elizabeth Avenue to October 21, 2026, with new notice required, and carried the County of Somerset's Canal Road subdivision, which adds a lot to open space, to May 6. It approved 10 EV charging stalls at 607 Somerset Street, 8-0.

After a presentation of the 29-acre Catalpa Park plan, estimated at $9.0–$9.1 million with construction management, the Council authorized bids 8-0. Its consent agenda endorsed the Planning Board's amended Housing Element and Fair Share Plan and a $77,725 stormwater plan shared with Montgomery, and it met in closed session on the Williams Transco litigation.

The second remote 2026 budget hearing covered the Police Department, Public Works with the water utility and open space, and Information Technology, including their capital requests. No member of the public commented, and no votes were taken.

The Council adopted Ord. 4496-26 on affordable housing development fees and the recycling, dog-licence and wedding-fee ordinances, each 9-0. Members reported on the 2026 road paving list, a planned review of the snow-removal ordinance, and property assessment notices with a May 1 appeal deadline.

The Council adopted Res. #26-112, barring federal civil immigration enforcement from using Township-owned property without a judicial warrant or order, as amended, 8-0. It adopted the Chapter 81 affordable housing ordinance and the Castleton Park easement, the Hamilton Street SID budget and assessment roll, and a $450,000 snow-plowing contract amendment, and met in closed session on possible open-space purchases.

The Planning Board voted 8-0 to form an Open Space Plan Steering Committee to update the 2013 Open Space and Recreation Plan, and spent a work session on the third draft of the 2026 Master Plan reexamination: cluster zoning, outdoor storage, sidewalks and a possible rail trail.

At the 2026 reorganization, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill swore in five ward councilmembers, the Council named Alex Kharazi Deputy Mayor, and it appointed the Township Attorney, engineer, auditor and court officials 9-0. A 9-0 consent agenda adopted the 2026 temporary budget and extended the planner contract for the Fourth Round affordable housing challenges.

With five of nine members present, the Council adopted three ordinances, including the vacation of part of Executive Drive, and a consent agenda that set the 2026 meeting schedule and renewed the Township's farmland preservation participation, each 5-0. Several residents asked the Council to support the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act.