Woods at Knoll Road Could Be Open Space

About 35 acres of undeveloped land near Knoll and River roads, known as the Marketplace property, could be purchased by Montville Township as open space if the approves an ordinance authorizing the purchase.

The property would be purchased with $1.35 million in county open space funds, though the purchase price would be considered $1.8 million, the appraised value, with the difference seen as a gift to Montville Township from the seller, SMK Enterprises Inc., officials said.

The Township Committee has introduced an ordinance that, if approved, would  have the property purchased with the $1.35 million in county funds and the seller would cover Montville Township's portion of the deal, $450,000, as a gift.

Part of the property is wetlands, but officials said some homes possibly could be built on the site with the necessary permits. The area is prone to flooding and some see purchasing the property as open space as a way of preventing future flooding problems.

If the township doesn't use the county grant to buy the land, another town could end up using the funds.

A public hearing and Township Committee vote on the ordinance is scheduled during the committee's meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday in the municipal building.