Hopewell Township Committee members honored Boy Scout Troop 1776 Monday night for their service and community leadership, recognizing the troop’s 90th anniversary and the recent restoration of the historic Washington Crossing sign at Ingleside and Pennington Road.
At the request of the Township Historic Preservation Committee, Scout Michael Near led the project to repaint and refurbish the weathered sign.
“It is a really impressive accomplishment,” said Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning, who praised the troop’s continued commitment to community service.
Troop 1776 was chartered in 1935 by the Washington Crossing Community Association and has remained active ever since.
October proclaimed Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The Committee issued a proclamation designating October 2025 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Hopewell Township, citing the rising rates of breast cancer—particularly among younger women—and the importance of education and early detection.
Ordinances introduced for trail funding and traffic safety
Several ordinances were introduced and will be discussed at the Committee’s next meeting on October 20.
Among them:
- Lawrence-Hopewell Trail: The Township plans to use $433,000 from its Open Space Capital Fund to supplement grant funding for construction of a trail segment along Rocky Hill Road, completing the 18-mile Lawrence-Hopewell Trail loop. The Open Space Fund currently holds $2.4 million.
- No-parking zones: A proposed ordinance would prohibit on-street parking on Denow Road and Van Brunt Road, which are too narrow to safely accommodate both parking and planned bike lanes. The restriction would extend from the Township’s border with Lawrence to Route 31.
- Police video fees: A third ordinance would increase fees for police body-worn camera or vehicle footage to help offset the Township’s cost of producing the material.
Sewer connections approved for Diverty Road residents
The Committee approved three agreements between Diverty Road residents and the Ewing-Lawrence Sewerage Authority (ELSA) to connect their homes to the sewer system.
Committee Member Kevin Kuchinski noted that residents along Diverty Road now have access to public water, gas, and sewer tie-ins. Mayor Peters-Manning invited residents to contact her directly with any questions about the new connections.
Residents raise concerns about proposed affordable housing site
During public comment, residents from the Flower Hill neighborhood and nearby Bull Run Road reiterated their concerns about the Township’s proposed Round 4 affordable housing development on property owned by The College of New Jersey.
They cited potential issues with traffic safety, flooding, groundwater contamination, wetlands preservation, and loss of open space.
Mayor Peters-Manning acknowledged their concerns and explained that these matters would be examined during the Planning Board’s site-plan review once an application is submitted.
“If it is discovered in the planning process that the property could not accommodate all the proposed development, the developer would have to change the plan,” she said, adding, “In no circumstances can developers build on wetlands.”
In an email to nearby property owners, Peters-Manning detailed what would be required for a site-plan submission, including a tree survey, traffic and environmental impact analyses, stormwater and fiscal impact reports, well and septic certifications, and proof of submission to the NJDEP for a wetlands Letter of Interpretation at least 60 days before filing a formal application.
While acknowledging that development is often emotional and controversial, Peters-Manning said the process will include multiple stages of public involvement and transparency.
