The committee introduced a $600,000 bond appropriation (authorizing $570,000 in bonds) and a $7.4 million bond appropriation (authorizing $7.03 million in bonds) for property acquisitions; both passed on first reading and have public hearings on 09/21/2026.

The township committee approved an agreement to acquire and deed-restrict land (including the Tredder property) to preserve roughly 83 acres of developable land, citing litigation history and a likely county match to Open Space Trust funds.

Multiple residents and the Middletown Open Space Association urged the committee to remove the Hegel Place parcel from a forthcoming auction or pursue local options to preserve wetlands and habitat; the committee said it will not act while the auction is ongoing and noted deed restrictions limiting development to three single‑family homes.