Details of Ponderlodge, DEP, Stockton College Agreement Released

VILLAS — The Herald obtained a copy of the memorandum of agreement between the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Richard Stockton College for a lease of Ponderlodge here.
DEP, which owns Villas Wildlife Management Area on which the former Ponderlodge is located, and Stockton College signed a memorandum of agreement Aug. 5 that will permit the college the use of the buildings as an educational center.
In the memorandum of agreement, Stockton requested to lease a 12.2 acre portion of the Ponderlodge property containing many of the existing structures for “use as an educational center to hold classes, seminars, adult education programs, talks, and conferences open to the public with the possibility of creating an educational campus and using an appropriate portion of the developed property as an interpretive education center…”
The agreement notes “NJDEP agrees to work closely with Stockton with the objective of executing a 20-year lease. In order for DEP to determine if a lease with Stockton would be consistent with state and federal funding restrictions on the property and its management objectives for the property, it requested a detailed conceptual plan for Stockton’s proposed use of Ponderlodge.
The plan is to include exhibit space permanently dedicated to the interpretation of the property for environmental education and allow for restroom use by the public at “reasonable hours and times of the year.”
Stockton also agrees to provide shared office space and classroom/auditorium space for use by the Division of Fish and Wildlife for environmental education purposes.
The agreement notes “ Stockton acknowledges that all of the structures in the proposed lease area will require substantial capital improvements to be used by the public and that any such improvements will be made by Stockton, not NJDEP.” It notes three houses on the property are not currently in habitable condition and may require installation of multiple utility systems in order to become habitable.
If the conceptual plan submitted by Stockton is acceptable to DEP, Stockton will conduct at least one informational meeting in Lower Township to discuss any proposed use of the lease area. A meeting has been scheduled for Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at Township Hall.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife agrees that it will look to provide internships to Stockton students and work with the college to provide such opportunities.
The agreement mentions cooperation between Fish and Wildlife and Stockton to offer “organized interpretive hikes through the property to the public,” as well as education opportunities for students to conduct habitat management work including mowing, planting, trail work, invasive species control and other habitat maintenance activities.
Fish and Wildlife and Stockton would work together to create partnerships for grants and for research and study including but not limited to energy use and sustainability.
Main parking areas within the lease area will be kept reasonably open and accessible to the public and will contain signs noting parking is not available near residential homes or storage and work areas for safety reasons.
Due to the source of funding for the purchase of the property, the draft lease will require the approval of the state House Commission and National Park Service. If the commission and park service are not able to determine the primary purpose of the lease is for public outdoor regulation, then the lease may be deemed a “diversion of NJDEP property under the federally-funded Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.
If Stockton’s proposed use of the property under the proposed lease is deemed a diversion or conversion of the property, both parties agree that DEP will not be able to proceed with the lease process unless and until the parties have agreed on terms of compensation that would met state and/or federal statutory and regulatory requirements.
The draft lease must be submitted to the Fish and Game Commission for review and comment.
If DEP and Stockton are successful in executing a 20-year lease, DEP agrees to initiate the process of obtaining approval to extend the lease. Length of lease extensions will be determined by mutual agreement but “shall be no longer than necessary to afford Stockton a reasonable return on investment in relation to the amount of money to be invested in restoration and management of structures on the property.”
In consideration of DEP’s commitment to forgo planned demolition of any structures on the property but at its own expense, Stockton may demolish structures within the lease area with approval of DEP.
The agreement notes Stockton agrees to immediately assume all responsibility for physical security of the structures in the proposed lease areas, which includes providing a security presence on the lease area.
The memorandum of agreement is signed Stockton College President Herman J. Saatkamp Jr. and Gary Sondermeyer, Director of Operations for DEP on behalf of Acting Commissioner Mark Mauriello.
On mutual agreement, either party can terminate or amend the memorandum of agreement provided Stockton shall remain responsible for physical security of the structures in the proposed lease area until such a time a lease is executed or in the event a lease is not completed, until DEP can award a contract for demolition of the structures.