The following is the the text from the February 13, 2008 State of the Township presentation by Mayor David Fried (also available at http://www.robbinsville-twp.org/State-of-Township/index.html)

• What’s in a name?
  • Voters approve changer to Robbinsville by margin of nearly 3-to-1
  • Only one Robbinsville in New Jersey, next one is six states away
  • Branding initiative
• Getting Our Own Zip Code
  • Working with Congressman (Chris) Smith to start approval process
• 2005 Promise: Increase share of Commercial Ratables
• How Are We Doing?
  • 2006: ~21%
  • 2007: ~34%
  • 2008: ~73%
• Where Robbinsville Stands
  • Commercial share of ratable base rising, more in pipeline

• What’s in store?
  • Two 100+ room hotel projects
  • Self-storage facility
  • Veterinary hospital
  • High-end retail at Meadowbrook Road
  • 4.1 million sq. ft. warehouse space, Northeast Business Park
  • 681,880 sq. ft.. Mercer Corporate Park
• Total Projected Value: $361 million+
• Promoting Economic Growth
  • Finding new uses for Kushner tract
  • Route 130 zoning changes
  • Completing Town Center
• Starting Over on Kushner
  • Purchasing 46 acres eliminated 271 market-rate housing units
  • Opportunity to add more commercial, retail space along Route 33
  • Auction favored, followed by near-term development of front, long-term development of back parcel
  • Need time to resolve Bypass
• Rezoning Route 130
  • 2006 Master Plan re-examination called for promoting commercial growth, no housing on highway
  • Consistent with Mercer Chamber Route 130 Vision tem findings
  • Ordinance will seek to streamline zoning, increase permitted uses
  • February introduction anticipated
• Holding down water costs
  • Robbinsville to approve Aqua NJ rate filing to increase base rates, add new distribution charge
  • Call on Legislature, regulators to end high cost of fire hydrants
  • Will seek intervenor status, will ask other towns to join opposition
• Government that Works
  • Pioneer in Shared Services; more opportunities seen with Allentown and Hightstown
  • Streamlined government save money: Dissolving the Fire District saved $835,000 from 2006 to 2007
  • Municipal tax rate to stay float in 2008, assuming current state aid levels
• Storm Cloud from the State
  • Governor Corzine’s presentation suggests cuts to municipal aid
  • Rule change this week keeps health care cost increases inside cap
  • N.J. has 3rd highest debt burden
  • $25B in unfunded pension obligations
  • $58B in post-retirement medical costs
• Serving a growing community
  • Police station, built in 1990, too small for current needs
  • Long-term solution needed for Township offices, Municipal Court
  • Future of Route 130 Municipal Building will be addressed in 2008
• Preserving our Heritage
  • Need is urgent to protect remaining open space
• What remains
  • Somerset Golf property, 52 acres
  • Princeton Research Lands, Line Road and Route 526, 153 acres
  • Edinburgh Village property, Route 526, 220 acres
  • Housing units eliminated: 115 units
• Helping Those in Need
  • Between 7 and 10 families in Robbinsville visit the food pantry weekly
  • Donations of non-perishable goods are needed
  • Seeking food cards from grocery stores, or bank card from area banks to assist families

Related posts:

1. Township Seeks $17 Million 2008 Budget
2. Robbinsville May Spend $25,000 to Acquire Mobile Home Park
3. School Board Approves $32M Budget for 2008-2009
4. Township Seeks to Buy 52 Acres for $2.2 Million
5. Town Council Introducing Big Development Changes Tonight