Branchburg voters OK land purchase to block certain development
Branchburg voters have approved a referendum by a 2,669-to-1,912 margin, according to unofficial results, to allow the Township Committee to spend taxpayer money to buy properties in the North Branch section to avoid their development as warehouses or affordable housing.
The referendum is non-binding. If residents from the entire township vote(d) no on the referendum, nothing will happen.
But if residents vote(d) yes, it gives the Township Committee the option to buy properties in the North Branch area that are valued at about $25 million.The land targeted for potential acquisition is within the Route 22/28 corridor west of North Branch village and near Raritan Valley Community College.
Township officials believe the lots could eventually be targeted for housing when the next round of affordable housing obligations is released in 2025 or for manufacturing facilities with warehousing.
But a yes vote would not oblige the Township Committee to acquire the properties.
Live updates:Election Day 2022 in Central Jersey
The landowners would be under no obligation to sell the properties and the township would not engage in condemnation proceedings.If the Township Committee buys only a portion of the properties, that could stymie any large-scale development proposals by the current owners.
If the Branchburg buys the properties, it will only keep the land until it is sold and "repurposed."
In the race for two seats on the Township Committee, incumbents Thomas Young and David Owens defeated the two Libertarian Party candidates, Tara Murphy and Jason MacDuffie, to maintain the GOP's 5-0 hold on the governing body.
Young polled 3,891 votes and Owens received 3,775 votes while Murphy got 1,484 votes and MacDuffie tallied 1,346 votes, according to unofficial results.
There were no Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. He is a Branchburg resident who played in the Branchburg Little League in the fourth grade and the late Ray Bateman was one of the coaches. That was a long time ago, but only four miles away from where he lives now. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Branchburg NJ election results: Voters decide on development
