STAFFORD – The Township Council approved the acquisition of a piece of property and provided a series of municipal updates during its most recent meeting.
One of the main actions was the adoption of Ordinance 2025-25, which authorizes the township to acquire Block 77.02, Lot 1, located at 302 Doc Cramer Boulevard. The property, currently vacant, sits near McKinley Avenue Elementary School and the township’s largest sports complex.
Business Administrator Matthew van der Hayden explained that this ordinance was necessary because the council had previously approved a similar measure tied to an application for State Green Acres funding.
“The last ordinance was contingent upon us getting the Green Acres funding,” he said. “This ordinance was different in that it just authorizes us to move forward with the purchase.”
Van der Hayden said the site is being considered for new community amenities. “The intention is to do some type of recreation,” he said. “Before we go out, we would do a workshop with the community to get people’s input as to what type of recreation would go there. We know we need more recreational space because the space we have now is filled up on a regular basis.”
He noted that possibilities include athletic fields, a skate park, pickleball courts, or a community center, but stressed that no decision will be made without public input. “This is the first step in what’s going to be a process that takes a couple of years,” he said.
The council also approved Resolution 2025-54, granting tentative approval for sanitary system facilities for 239 South Main LLC, located on Block 144, Lot 32. The measure allows the proposed development to move forward under township oversight.
In addition to the acquisition, Mayor Robert Henken shared community updates. He welcomed two new businesses – Black Sheep Studios and The Therapy Hub – and highlighted infrastructure improvements, including the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s upgrades at Cedar Bonnet Island and the Public Works Department’s effort to distribute recycling stickers to residents to “help everyone recycle properly and reduce contamination.”
Henken also noted the rollout of an online eCheck payment option for property taxes, calling it a “safe, convenient” way for residents to manage payments. Upcoming initiatives include a township-wide food drive and a mobile outreach program that will offer free health screenings and assistance resources.
