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Monroe Township approves three utility easements for water and sewer installation
Summary
The Township Council adopted three ordinances allowing the township to acquire easements on private properties for installation and maintenance of water and sewer lines; developers paid property-related costs, and residents asked for detail on easement sizes and who pays township staff fees.
Monroe Township's council voted Tuesday to adopt three ordinances authorizing the township to acquire utility easements on private property to install and maintain water and sewer lines.
The ordinances—O 05-2025-011 (951 State Route 33 West, Block 5 Lot 12.02), O 05-2025-012 (46 Bentley Road, Block 5 Lot 4.01), and O 05-2025-013 (Columbus Avenue, Block 106.04 Lots 1–11)—were introduced, opened for public hearing and adopted after residents asked questions about the extent of the easements and whether the township would incur costs. Council members voted in favor of each ordinance; Councilman Charles DePiro abstained on some procedural votes but the measures passed by roll call.
At public hearings, residents pressed for specifics. Michelle Arminio (9 Nathaniel Street) asked how much property would be included in the Route 33 easement; a staff speaker explained there will be a temporary construction easement and then a permanent utility easement, and that the easement width on that property is between 20 and 30 feet. For the Bentley Road parcel staff said the easement will be about 195 feet long by 20 feet. For the Columbus Avenue matter staff said the roadway encroached on a private lot and the owner provided an easement so the road and existing utilities remain public and no township payment was required.
Council and staff clarified who paid related professional fees. The township said the developers covered costs tied to the easements: design, plan review, attorneys’ fees and other related charges were billed to developer escrow accounts and not charged to the township general fund. The township also said invoices for planner and engineering review were charged against escrow and would be replenished by the developer if necessary.
The ordinances will allow the township and its utility department to install lines to serve new infrastructure and to formalize access for maintenance. Residents were told that once the infrastructure is in place, nearby properties will be able to tie in where allowed by the utility rules.
Copies of the adopted ordinances and the staff reports are in the municipal record for the meeting; questions about the total dollar amounts paid by developers for each parcel were described as “not specified” at the hearing.
Council members voted by roll call to adopt each ordinance following the public hearings; no amendments were made during the meeting.
