Public will need to know
who gets hospital tract

Marlboro municipal officials have pursued one goal since New Jersey closed the Marlboro State Psychiatric Hospital in 1998: ownership of the 400 acres on Route 520 that served as the hospital’s base.

The Township Council has laid out an ambitious redevelopment plan that calls for the preservation and renovation of as many of the property’s Tudor-style buildings as possible and demands compatible architecture in any new buildings. Among components allowed on the grounds are high-end retail units, hotels, a golf course, municipal and school buildings, corporate headquarters and open space. Only a limited amount of residential development will be allowed, according to the redevelopment plan.

In the latest update, the council announced it will hold a special meeting on Nov. 25 for the purpose of going into executive session to discuss issues related to its ongoing attempt to purchase the property. The council members will discuss acquisition of property and contract negotiations for the purchase of the tract.

The council has invested significant time and money into pursuing the purchase of the hospital property. It is a plan that could be a boost for Marlboro if the redevelopment plan is adhered to.

A recent letter to the editor from a Marlboro resident voiced a thought that has been "out there" for some time. That question is just who the hospital redeveloper will be.

It is important to the public trust that if Marlboro buys the property and assigns its development rights to a development entity that the public know who the principals of that group are. The public will be watching to make sure the person or corporation selected will carry out the plan the way the town wants.

This is not a piece of property to be turned into a retirement community or McMansions by a developer or land speculator looking to turn a quick profit. It can be a property where a long-range plan will reward a developer over time.