At the Pennington Borough Council’s meeting at the beginning of the month, affordable housing, community forestry, and potential landfill redevelopment were all discussed by the council.
Pennington’s Affordable Housing Plan: Mayor supports public involvement
“I want to give the public ample opportunity for comment and input on the affordable housing plan,” said Mayor Davy before outlining the open meetings scheduled from December to March.
Schedule:
December 17, 2025: 7 pm: Special Joint Meeting with Council and Planning Board
The purpose of the meeting is to review and discuss a proposal prepared by Borough Planner Jim Kyle for achieving Pennington’s affordable housing obligations. No vote will be taken at this meeting.
January 14, 2026: 7 pm: Planning Board Meeting
The board will conduct a Public Hearing to adopt the amended housing plan which will be referred to Council.
January 26, 7 pm: Open Council Work Session
February 2, 7 pm: Borough Council Meeting
The Council will formally endorse the plan by resolution and introduce zoning ordinances to implement the plan.
March 2, 7 pm: Borough Council Meeting
The Council will hold a public hearing on the zoning ordinances introduced at the February meeting. The intent of this session is to prepare for the mid-March deadline for submission of the plan to the State of New Jersey.
Forests and trees will continue to provide healthy living, economic strength and beauty, thanks to the Shade Tree Committee
Announcing the updated Community Forestry Management Plan, 2026-2035, Councilman Dan Rubenstein congratulated Shade Tree Committee members for their dedicated work in updating the existing plan.
“The Pennington Shade Tree Committee has been committed to maintaining and replacing the existing tree canopy as well as planting the right tree in the right location,” said Committee Chair Kate Fullerton in a conversation with MercerMe. Fullerton mentioned the annual Arbor Day celebration with the Toll Gate School first grade class as one of the committee’s prized community projects.
The update of the Forestry Plan is necessary for Pennington to maintain accreditation with the Urban and Community Forestry Program of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which provides access to grants that can fund the Shade Tree’s projects.
As described in the Borough’s resolution, a core part of the plan’s mission is to ensure the viability and sustainability of Pennington’s forests and shade trees for the economic, aesthetic, health and environmental benefits they provide to Borough residents. The Plan includes, among other things, an informative community overview and provisions relating to tree inventory and tree risk assessments, planting, maintenance and overall program goals.
Changes in Fire Inspection Services
Davy announced that Pennington is changing its enforcement agencies for fire inspections. Because Hopewell Township will no longer provide these services, Pennington will receive services from the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, Department of Community Affairs. The Division will provide inspection for life-threatening uses and, temporarily, for non-life threatening uses. Looking ahead, the Borough will employ a fire official to take responsibility for non-life threatening inspections.
Testing for potential redevelopment of Pennington’s old landfill site to continue
Council adopted an ordinance for a supplemental appropriation of $60,000 for preliminary work related to potential redevelopment of the borough owned landfill. The main source of the appropriation will come from a State grant, and the Borough will pay the balance of $2,508.
Earlier work on the landfill project dates back to 2023 when a published study conducted by Kyle +McManus Associates concluded that the old landfill property has soil contamination and a trash layer of approximately “25’ in depth and 65,000 cubic yards in volume.” In addition, the report also described various structures as abandoned and dilapidated. Excel Environmental Resources conducted a soil investigation which showed contamination, but it was determined that additional testing is needed.
Water, Earth, and Fire: Updates from the Environmental Commission
Reporting on the commission’s Community Conversations, Councilman Dan Rubenstein said the next virtual event will focus on storm water and water conservation. Details will be posted on the Borough website. A previous conversation on Greenscaping can be viewed online now.
A major priority of the Commission in 2026 will be on wild fire prevention and control.
Honoring history, creating beauty, and having fun in the holiday season
The sixth Annual Pennington Borough Holiday Lights contest is underway and offering cash prizes for first, second and third place winners. Voting takes place December 19, 20 and 21. Learn more at the Holiday Guide web page. “There are no rules. Decorate, have fun, and be safe!” says organizer Larissa Kelsey.
A Year’s Eve party is planned for December 31, 1-3 pm, at the Senior Center. To register, call 609-537-0236 or send email to [email protected].
In other business
Pennington’s respected borough engineer Brian Fetzer has moved on to a new career opportunity, and the Borough has approved the issuance of a Request for Proposal for an engineer to provide future services.
On the issue of vehicle and pedestrian safety, the Borough is considering the potential benefits of employing the services a traffic engineer.
