The Edison Township Council introduced ordinances to authorize property acquisitions related to the Thomas Place redevelopment plan and said the purchases would be funded from developer-contributed funds rather than from the municipal general fund.

Council members grouped two proposed ordinances (identified in the agenda as 2258 and 2259) that would allow the township to acquire certain properties identified in the redevelopment plan and then transfer them to a redeveloper under previously negotiated developer agreements. Staff said the acquisitions are tied to the John Street/Thomas Place redevelopment plan and that the redeveloper's plan includes senior housing.

A council member asked the administration to explain whether the township would be spending taxpayer dollars for the acquisitions. The council president responded: "be clear so that the residents understand that we are not putting any money towards this. We're not buying anything. This is just strictly transactional process that we're taking as part of the..." The administration confirmed the purchases would be made using developer funds (a developer contribution or developers' fund established in connection with the redevelopment agreement) and that the township would convey title to the redeveloper.

Council members requested a brief public explanation about which parcel is involved; one member said the property in question is the gas station parcel and asked staff to confirm the location. Staff said the transactions are part of the developer agreement the council authorized in prior years and that the acquisitions will further the redevelopment goals.

The ordinances were introduced on first reading and set for public hearing on Sept. 10. Staff said they would circulate backup materials so residents could review the redevelopment agreement, the parcels involved and the proposed transfer terms before final adoption.

Why it matters: the measures formalize the municipal steps to assemble property for a redevelopment project that includes senior housing and are funded from developer contributions associated with prior redevelopment agreements. Residents asked for clarity about public costs and about how the redevelopment will be administered; the council and administration emphasized no general-tax dollars will be used for the acquisitions.

Next steps: public hearings are scheduled for Sept. 10; the administration will share parcel maps and developer-agreement summaries ahead of the hearing so interested residents can review the proposal.