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Monroe Council adopts bond to buy 22 acres on Disbrow Hill Road; developer donates 44 more
Summary
The council adopted two ordinances to buy 22 acres off North Disbrow Hill Road and accept a donation of roughly 44 adjacent acres from the same property owner; a separate rezoning ordinance was tabled to October 6. Council voted unanimously on the acquisition and bond.
Monroe Township's council voted unanimously Sept. 3 to authorize a bond to acquire 22 acres off North Disbrow Hill Road for open space and to accept an additional roughly 44-acre donation from the same property owner.
At the meeting the clerk read Ordinance O8-20-25-019, a bond ordinance appropriating $2,635,000 for the acquisition and authorizing $2,509,500 in bonds or notes to finance part of the cost. Public commenters asked who the seller was; the administration identified Federal Business Centers as the property owner and confirmed the acquisition covers 22 acres with a separate 44-acre donation.
During public comment residents questioned whether donated acreage included wetlands or unbuildable land. Council and staff said some of the donated acreage contains wetlands and portions that are landlocked, and that the 22-acre acquisition is appropriate for an active park site. "It would probably be passive recreation," said a council representative when asked about the larger donated parcel.
Separately, the council tabled Ordinance O8-20-25-021, a zoning change for the Highway Development District, after Councilmember George Gunkelman raised notice requirements under the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL). The motion to table moved the public hearing and adoption of the rezoning ordinance to the council's Oct. 6 meeting.
Both the open-space bond ordinance (O8-20-25-019) and the negotiated-acquisition ordinance (O8-20-25-020) were adopted by unanimous roll-call votes. Council said preserving the acreage will provide a park in the township's southern side, buffer existing Regency property and remove land from future round calculations in affordable-housing settlements.
Council members and residents asked for clarity about "donation" language; one longtime commenter said developers historically donate land that is not prime upland, while administration noted the parcels have conservation value and help avoid future development pressure.
Next steps: the council will proceed with the acquisition and the town will plan park uses for the 22-acre parcel; the rezoning hearing for O21 is rescheduled for Oct. 6.
