Anticipated development requiring advanced preparation for Netcong 

    NETCONG (2/29/08) – The year 2008 is shaping up as a year of significant road and public building improvements for this tiny borough.

    Anticipating construction of the “down town transit village” certain infrastructure needs are being looked at by the governing body as well as improvements in the borough municipal building, which also houses the police department  The Council also have a concern about the two aging fire houses and improvements in roadways. The Borough Council anticipates a study for the buildings to be about $5,000

     Space in the borough hall was tightened considerably when a needed building department was installed.  There’s also a need for more storage space and Council has proposed an architect be called on to determine the feasibility of  adding a second floor to the municipal building or to build out on the first floor or to simply re-design the inside of the building to accommodate anticipated needs.  The same architect could look at both of the borough’s firehouses to be sure they are up to code and meet all standards.

    In addition the Council has agreed on three road improvement projects that will be undertaken this year…some $400,000 worth of work….all covered by state and county grants.

    Prospect Street, Highland and Ledgewood Avenues already have been approved and bids let to be returned in March.

    Sidewalk will be installed on the west side of Prospect Street from Allen to Stoll Streets making it safer for children who are not bused to school to walk and ride their bikes along that street.

     The cost for that will come from grants from the State Department of Transportation and the Morris County Community Development Program.  Highland Avenue is slated to be re-surfaced, curbing replaced and the installation of a water main. 

    The borough will use $150,00 it received from a property sale to extend  the antiques style downtown on Ledgewood Avenue. 

    In keeping with the theme of Main Street, brick pavers in the sidewalks and antique style streetlights will be installed on the west side of Ledgewood Avenue between Main Street and Maple Avenue and on the east side of the street between Allen Street ad Allen Terrace.

    Still in the planning stages is a fourth road project which will further extend the town streetscape onto Maple Avenue. A construction time for that project has yet to be established

   The borough recently was awarded another $150,000 from the Transportation Department to extend  the downtown’s brick paver sidewalks and antique style  streetlights onto Maple Avenue from Main Street to Hilt’s Lane.