Town mulls buying land

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Property to be used for affordable housing

The Township Committee introduced two ordinances Monday that could allow it to buy land needed to build affordable housing units.

If adopted, the ordinances will allow the township to buy 3.81 acres along Route 130 South near north of Half Acre Road, called the Route 130 D site, for $1 million. The township hopes to build between 20 and 40 affordable housing units on the parcel as part of its third round of affordable housing obligations.

The land is owned by Ravi LLC and the township is acquiring it through eminent domain because the township needed the land to fulfill its affordable housing requirement, but Township Administrator Tom Witt said Thursday that both parties entered into the contract willingly. Eminent domain states that a municipality can seize property for the health and safety of the community.

The township is using $835,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to finance the purchases. The township is bonding for another $200,000. Mr. Witt said extra money will be used to cover closing fees, including a survey of the land and other miscellaneous costs.

Cranbury Housing Association President Mark Berkowsky said that if the ordinances are adopted, construction will not begin until 2008.

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