Two ordinances aimed at advancing construction of a 70-unit affordable housing development on the Weidel Tract were introduced by the Hopewell Township Committee on June 8.
The project would be built on a 10-acre portion of the Weidel Tract, located between Denow and Diverty roads. The development is a key component of the township’s plan to meet its fourth-round affordable housing obligations under New Jersey’s Fair Share Housing requirements.
The first ordinance would rezone the property as a new AH-1 Affordable Housing District. The Planning Board recommended the zoning change in April, finding it consistent with the township’s Master Plan.
The Weidel Tract is part of a larger 52-acre parcel owned by Hopewell Township. The township has already entered into a development agreement with Walters-Cornerstone Development LLC, and preliminary site plans and a subdivision application are currently before the Planning Board.
A second ordinance addresses a challenge facing the project: the property currently lacks direct access to a public roadway.
The ordinance authorizes township attorneys to negotiate with the owner of an adjacent property, Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation, to acquire land needed for a roadway connection to Denow Road.
If negotiations are unsuccessful, the ordinance would also authorize the township to pursue eminent domain proceedings to obtain the land necessary for access.
Committee member Kevin Kuchinski said he expects negotiations to succeed but supported having additional options available.
“Having every tool in our arsenal to be able to meet our affordable housing obligation is, for me, the thing we should be doing,” Kuchinski said.
Mayor David Chait supported the measure, while Committee member Courtney Peters-Manning objected to the eminent domain provision and cast the lone dissenting vote.
Both ordinances were introduced and will be the subject of a public hearing at the Township Committee’s June 22 meeting.
Salary Ordinance Introduced
The committee also introduced an ordinance updating salary ranges for several township positions and creating a new part-time park ranger position.
The proposal would increase the maximum annual salary for the police chief to $235,000 and establish a salary range of $190,000 to $210,000 for the position of police captain, a role the township is seeking to revive after remaining vacant for years.
Several hourly pay scales would also be adjusted under the ordinance.
Police Department Reaches Staffing Milestone
In his annual report to the committee, Police Chief James Rosso said the department has reached a record staffing level of 39 officers.
Five officers are currently completing training at the police academy and are expected to begin active duty in July.
Rosso reported that the department responded to nearly 35,000 calls for service during the past year and made 172 arrests.
Township Issues Proclamations, Honors PQM
The committee issued proclamations recognizing Pride Month, Human Trafficking Awareness efforts ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Juneteenth Independence Day.
The committee also honored the Rothwell family and Pennington Quality Market for their decades of service and commitment to the community as the longtime local grocery store completed its transition to new ownership.
Accepting the recognition, Mike Rothwell thanked both the township and the broader community for their support during the market’s 45 years under Rothwell family ownership.
