A 20-acre vacant lot at Route 206 and Scarborough Road in Belle Mead is one step closer to becoming a 196-unit community known as Thrive at Montgomery. The Planning Board approved the developer’s minor subdivision and final major site plan at its July 27 meeting. This development has been "in the works" since early 2014.

Zoning evolves based on foundational planning principles, economic shifts, public needs, and legal obligations. One property, a 154-acre parcel located at Scarborough Road and Route 206 in Belle Mead, has a fascinating zoning history that illustrates the evolving needs and priorities of a community over a 65-year period. In is now zoned for senior citizen continuing care facility.

The terms of the following Montgomery School Board representatives will expire in December: Christina Harris, Vanita Nargund, and Victoria “Cookie” Franco-Herman. As of the July 27 deadline at 4 pm, nine people had filed petitions with the Somerset County Board of Elections to run for the board. Harris, who has served on the board since February 2019, was the only incumbent to file.

Answering a call across two and a half centuries, Benjamin Franklin was guest of honor at a well-attended reading of the Declaration of Independence in Rocky Hill Borough Hall on July 8, just prior to the monthly borough council meeting. Dr. Franklin (portrayed by reenactor Donald Crouthamel of Sellersville, PA, a family friend of borough resident Gina Sciaraffo), smilingly acknowledged the cheers and shouts of “Huzzah!” as he entered the room.

Siddartha Prasad Surapanani, 18, of Belle Mead is charged with 2nd degree vehicular homicide after an accident in Raritan, just north of Hillsborough, on Monday, July 27, police said.

In 1980, a company widely called “the first independent software vendor,” Applied Data Research, built its headquarters at 23 Orchard Road in Skillman. By the time the campus had grown into a 234,000-sq-ft, 44-acre office property, it had become a critical part of Montgomery’s business identity. Later, Johnson & Johnson filled its halls. Today, those halls are mostly empty.

Over the past several months, one topic has generated considerable discussion throughout Montgomery Township’s business community: the upcoming opening of Montgomery Promenade. The MBA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local businesses, promoting economic growth, encouraging residents to shop locally, and fostering connections between businesses, residents, schools, nonprofit organizations, and local government.