94 Acres to be Preserved in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County

I can remember Thompson Land owning a property in Princeton where I lived. They would cut down a couple trees a year and call it a "Christmas Tree Farm." Still, it's great whenever more land gets off the development rolls.

Originally appeared in NJ.com.

DELAWARE TWP. — Township officials agreed unanimously on Monday to a local conservation group's request to use local open-space tax and state grant money to help preserve 94 of 101 aces owned by Thompson Land.

Renee Kiriluk-HillDelaware Township Committee members at their July 16 meeting.

The property is at Pavlica and Pine Hill roads and the appraised value is $19,000 per acre, New Jersey Conservation Foundation regional manager Alix Bacon told the Township Committee. There are woods, farmland, some steep slopes, an old cemetery and frontage on the Plum Brook.

The cemetery is filled with ancestors of farming families who settled the Reading Road and Rosemont areas, Bacon explained.

Seven acres containing and surrounding a barn and outbuildings would be subdivided, leaving a building lot subject to property taxes.

The remainder, Bacon said, is "wonderful farmland as well as woodland," as well as a "missing link" that will connect other properties preserved by the foundation. The purchase would also continue a greenbelt being established around the village of Sergeantsville.

Renee Kiriluk-HillAlix Bacon of New Jersey Conservation Foundation and Delaware Township Open Space Coordinator Jim Borders attend a July 16 Township Committee meeting to support participation in the purchase of 94 acres from Thompson Land.

On July 16 Bacon clarified the foundation's request for money to enable the deal, which would cost approximately $1,786,000.

The foundation seeks: 10%, or $178,600, from the township's open-space fund; 30%, or $535,800, from a state Green Acres grant previously awarded to the township; 20%, or $357,200, from New Jersey Water Supply Authority; and 40%, or $714,400, from Hunterdon County open-space funds.

The Conservation Foundation would also contribute a $40,000 grant from the 1772 Foundation.

Committeeman Ken Novak questioned the purchase price of $19,000 per acre, because Thompson Land delivered a concept plan to develop the property but doesn't have any subdivision approvals. Bacon said that the figure was arrived at by two appraisers and pointed out that the purchase is "fee simple," not an easement.

Renee Kiriluk-HillAlix Bacon, regional manager for New Jersey Conservation Foundation, shows Delaware Township Committee members on July 16 the boundaries of a proposed open space purchase.

The foundation plans to manage the land. Bacon said that a local farmer would continue to work the farmland and that a trail would be added linking neighboring preserved sites.

Township open-space representatives said that the parcel is in the long-term plan as a desirable purchase.

Bacon said that the Thompson land would be accessible to people walking from Sergeantsville or those who drive and park near a foundation kiosk on Pine Hill Road. She said that it is the final Thompson Land tract in the township to be preserved.

She expects to learn in September if the county grant is awarded.

12 Acres Preserved in Rockaway Twp., Morris County

Also mentioned is The Land Conservancy of New Jersey's recent 36-acre purchase in Montville Twp., as well.

Originally appeared on DailyRecord.com.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has announced two new preservation initiatives that will add to the county’s open space areas used for watershed protection and recreational activities.

In June, Montville Township purchased and preserved 36 acres known as “Market Place” along River Road across from Robert Lazar Middle School; in July The Land Conservancy purchased the 12-acre Heart of the Farny Highlands property in Rockaway Township.

The Montville property will be utilized for flood storage protection and hiking; it was purchased with a $1.35 million grant from the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund and is the 17th property Montville Township preserved since the inception of its open space program in 1990, which includes 1,100 acres.

“The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is proud of its accomplishments in Montville Township,” said Linda Gloshinski, land preservation specialist with The Land Conservancy. “From protecting the Towaco Aquifer, to creating new parks for ball fields, to expanding the protected lands along the Rockaway River, the Market Place property will further enhance the open space and recreational opportunities available to Township residents.”

The site has access points at River Road and Old Changebridge Road. The township decided to preserve the space instead of developing it with 14 single-family houses after considering the impact on water quality and flood protection, including the riparian corridor of Crooked Brook, which traverses the eastern portion of the site.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey purchased the Farny Highlands in Roxbury with funds provided by the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority and Morris County Park Commission. The property lies within a 35,000-acre region of watershed land and is surrounded by more than 8,000 acres of public parkland and will be owned and managed by the Park Commission.

The property is situated on the eastern border of Rockaway Township and Kinnelon Borough within the Highland’s Preservation Area. It is located within 300 feet of the Split Rock Reservoir and an unnamed tributary to the Timber Brook runs through the southern portion of the lot and the property. The parcel is completely forested and according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, offers suitable habitat for bobcat, Coopers Hawk and foraging for great blue heron.

The property was previously owned by the Timothy family who had owned it since the 1990s and approached the conservancy about preservation options in 2011.

“We thank Lynne Timothy for her foresight in preserving this critical property,” said conservancy President David Epstein. “Lynne’s commitment to conservation has helped to make New Jersey is a better place to live.”

Dave Helmer, executive director, Morris County Park Commission said the preservation of the Timothy property will provide the final necessary link connecting the two arms of the 1,498-acre Silas Condict County Park.

“Without the support of the residents and businesses of Morris County, open space preservation projects like this one would not occur,” he said.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is headquarters in Montville Township on the 44-acre WildAcres preserve. The Fred Hierwarter WildAcres Trail consists of three walking trails, of varying difficulty, where hikers can enjoy the scenic vistas and experience the property’s varied wildlife habitat. WildAcres Garden features native plants and has been certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

36 Acres Preserved in Montville, Morris County

Always good to hear my adopted home county acquiring more land for open space.

Press release from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey

On June 21, Montville Township purchased and preserved 36 acres along River Road. Known simply as "Market Place," the Township of Montville purchased this undeveloped property for open space and recreation, plans include utilizing the property for flood storage protection and hiking.

River Road has been identified in the 2011 Open Space and Recreation Plan as a proposed bicycle route in the southern part of the municipality, this property would provide a quiet respite for riders along this scenic road across from the Knoll West County Club in neighboring Parsippany-Troy Hills Township. Robert Lazar Middle School is diagonally across from the northeastern corner of the property.

Purchased with a $1,350,000 grant from the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund, this is the 17th property Montville Township has preserved with the assistance and technical expertise of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey.

With its headquarters located on a municipal park in the Township, The Land Conservancy has worked with Montville Township since 1998 assisting the township with its open space preservation program. Since the inception of the Montville Township open space program in 1990, 1,100 acres of land have been preserved by the township for recreation and watershed protection.

"The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is proud of its accomplishments in Montville Township," stated Linda Gloshinski, land preservation specialist with The Land Conservancy. " From protecting the Towaco Aquifer, to creating new parks for ball fields, to expanding the protected lands along the Rockaway River, the Market Place property will further enhance the open space and recreational opportunities available to Township residents."

"The acquisition of the former Market Place property is a valuable addition to the township's parks and open spaces," stated Victor Canning, township administrator.

The Market Place property had the potential to be developed with 14 single-family homes. The site has ample access available from River Road, as well as approximately 50 feet of frontage on Old Changebridge Road.

The Township of Montville has a long history of preserving open space within its borders and is focusing its energies on providing public access to preserved lands in the township. A parcel along the Rockaway River was donated to the township as part of this transaction, and may become part of a future river walk. Preserving Market Place protects an area that would be best left undeveloped for water quality and flood protection, including the riparian corridor of Crooked Brook, which traverses the eastern portion of the site.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has its headquarters in Montville Township on the 44-acre WildAcres preserve. This park offers many opportunities for visitors to enjoy a beautiful part of Montville: The Fred Hierwarter WildAcres Trail consists of three walking trails, of varying difficulty, where hikers can enjoy the scenic vistas and experience the property's varied wildlife habitat (including deer, black bear, blue birds, wild turkeys, pileated woodpeckers and more).

WildAcres Garden, established with the help of dedicated volunteers, features native plants and has been certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, call 973-541-1010, or visit www.tlc-nj.org.

Gloucester County to Expand Scotland Run Park

Originally appeared on NJ.com

As part of a move to preserve open space in Gloucester County, the Board of Chosen Freeholders plans to acquire land in Clayton and Monroe Township. The property, which is currently approved for development, would be used as an addition to Scotland Run Park. The decision comes at the same time as the county announced plans to set aside space in Swedesboro and Greenwich Township as well.

Officials were especially eager to acquire the land, which consists of 39 contiguous acres in Monroe Township and Clayton, because adding property to parks is no easy task.

“Any opportunities the county has to expand our parks—they’re very rare,” said Ken Atkinson, Director of the Gloucester County Office of Land Preservation.

“When those opportunities come along we’re very careful to exert our efforts to secure those lands.”

The Scotland Run purchase will be made directly by the county, and remain county property after the purchase is made. It differs from the other preservation work, including that of Swedesboro, in how the the land is being acquired.

In Swedesboro, the open spaces being set aside will be owned by the municipality, not the county, under the auspices of the Gloucester County Open Space Program. After settlement is made on the parcel of land, jurisdiction over the property will belong to Swedesboro.

The land in East Greenwich is being set aside with not just help from the state, but from the federal government as well. Gloucester County is eligible for reimbursement from the US Department of Agriculture of nearly half the cost of 114 acres of farmland in the township—a total of about $1 million in aid. Because the land in East Greenwich is being preserved under the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program, preservation is more complicated than a simple purchase.

“When the county identifies a property that we hope to preserve through farmland preservation, the county doesn’t buy the property outright,” Atkinson said.

Instead, the county simply purchases easement rights to the property, which place a deed restriction on how the land can be used. The original owner will retain the right to use and sell the property, but when it is sold, it can only be used for farming.

Some of the land in Clayton was originally approved for residential development. The building of 23 homes had been approved for the spot by local government. However, Debra Sellitto, director of communications for Gloucester County, explained that this approval did not mean any plans for building had been made.

“If it’s approved for construction, that only means it’s allowed to happen,” she said.

“It still means that anyone can acquire it. The county and municipality came together to purchase it from the property owner, then set it aside as open space.”

The new land dedicated to Scotland Run would bring the total area of the park to 993 acres.

Because the land Gloucester County is purchasing to add to Scotland Run costs more than $100,000, the Board of Freeholders must hold a public hearing to allow residents to voice their concerns, if any. The meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 5.

76 Acres in Upper Pittsgrove Twp., Salem County, Preserved

Upper Pittsgrove is second in the state for preserved farmland, only to Upper Freehold, in Monmouth County. Pretty impressive.

Originally appeared on NJ.com

View full sizeStaff photo by Britney Lillya

UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP. — A 76-acre farm on Burlington Road in Monroeville is being put into preservation through the state program, Mayor Jack Cimprich said recently. 

Dolores Kernan will have her property preserved, adding to the township’s 7,874 acres of preserved farmland. 

Hope Gruzlovic, a spokesperson for the State Farmland Preservation Program and the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), said that Upper Pittsgrove is number two in preserved farmland to Upper Freehold in Monmouth County, which has 8,585 acres preserved. She added that there are 198,543 acres preserved statewide. Salem County is number one in preserved farmland through the State Preservation Program, with 29,418 acres.

While Kernan is setting her land up for preservation, she will continue to own the property. Rather than selling the property, she sold the development rights. By doing this, a deed of easement for the development of the land is placed.

“The property becomes restricted in how it can be used,” Cimprich explained.

These restrictions would involve what can be built on the property. No houses or other structures besides those involving farming can be built, and the land can still be farmed.

The funding comes from a Plan Incentive Grant (PIG) from SADC. SADC is funded by the Garden State Preservation Trust. Kernan received $4,200 per acre for the development rights of the land, which is at a net amount of 75.305 acres, totaling $316,281. PIG funding receives an approximate 20 percent match from the county and township each and approximately 60 percent from the state.

“What happens is, each township that is interested is awarded a certain amount of funds,” Cimprich said. “For this case, it was $1.25 million for the acquisition of farmland.”

Part of that money was used for this preservation project.

The SADC provides numerous ways of helping with the preservation process. It can give grants to counties, municipalities and nonprofit groups to pay for the development of the farmland, or offer grants to fund up to 50 percent of the cost of soil and water conservation projects, according to their website. It is also possible for the land to be completely sold to the SADC, though only for property ranging from 92 or more acres.

Cimprich went on to say that the program is a good one, and he hopes it will continue in the upcoming years.

He also mentioned that there are 15 other properties in Upper Pittsgrove totaling 1,100 acres that are approved and set to be put into the state preservation program. In some cases they are waiting for finalization from landowners, Cimprich said, but not all of these properties will necessarily be added for preservation. However, the funding is available and there is better than a 50 percent chance that most of the properties will be added.

Some funding for other land going into preservation may come from the Green Acres or the Federal Farm and Ranch Program.

Several, Cimprich said, fall into the last group.

86 Acres Preserved in Hopewell Twp, Mercer County

I used to live and work near this area. It's stunning, and efforts to preserve the land like this will only help keep it that way.

Press release courtesy D&R Greenway Land Trust.

LAST week, D&R Greenway preserved 22 acres in East Amwell Twp, Hunterdon County.   THIS week, we preserved 86 acres in Hopewell Twp, Mercer County!

With your help and with the outstanding support of our partners, on June 21st D&R Greenway purchased 86 acres of meadows and forest for permanent preservation. These rolling fields and woodlands represent one of the last missing connections in the Stony Brook Greenway. Thanks to our funding partners: the New Jersey Green Acres Program, Mercer County, Hopewell Township,  Hopewell Borough and Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space.  This land connects the Stony Brook south of Rte. 518 to the Cedar Ridge Preserve north of Rte. 518, a D&R Greenway 'Signature Preserve'. The property offers beautiful views toward the Sourlands ridge and will link the Stony Brook to the Sourlands. Mature forest supports a diverse native canopy and rich herbaceous layer. The structure and composition of these areas provide important habitat for forest-dwelling wildlife species.  Protected native species in the stream corridor include pinxster azalea, false hellebore, smooth yellow violet, cutleaf toothwort, and Canada mayflower. Open fields will provide for high quality pollinator and grassland species habitat.   "My parents bought this land in 1950 and I grew up here. My wife, Jody, and I, have now shared this property longer than they did -- over 30 years. We wanted to preserve this land to keep the special qualities of our community." -Townsend Olcott, landowner

Former Linden Landfill Now a Wildlife Refuge

When some people think of NJ, they think of dank, sad, industrialized places like Linden. And, then, you hear about something like this and remember that even places like this can be put back in their proper state.

Courtesy NJ.com

LINDEN — Along the trail, you walk under the forest canopy and then out onto a bridge over a tidal wetland. The briny smell stings your nostrils.

Small chirping birds zip by, flies buzz in your face and the wind rustles grasses coating a tall hill to the east. For many parts of the Garden State, this is not a remarkable sight.

But that hill, 100 feet tall and stretching for dozens of acres, is actually a tomb filled with decades of trash from surrounding communities — places that are not so far away that they can’t be heard in the distance.

The Linden Landfill, once one of the most problematic — and fined — in the state, has now been converted into a natural setting in the midst of one of the most historically industrialized parts of New Jersey: the Tremley Point section of Linden.

Five years of planning and work culminated with the opening last week of Hawk Rise Sanctuary.

The 95-acre preserve and wetland complex in Union County is carved right around the former landfill, which is now capped. The preserved forests and wetlands now host a variety of wildlife, including more than 120 species of birds, according to environmentalists.

View full sizeRuss DeSantis/For The Star-LedgerThe Linden Landfill, once one of the most problematic in the state, has now been converted into a natural setting in the midst of one of the most historically industrialized parts of New Jersey: the Tremley Point section of Linden.

The place is an estuary location, where the currents of the freshwater Rahway River mingle and tug back and forth with the tides of the salty Arthur Kill. For centuries it’s been a bird habitat, no matter what humans have done to the land and the water. But now it’s a natural oasis set aside for people to enjoy, too.

"This is a pretty area," said David Couto, a junior at Raritan Valley Community College as he walked the trail to train for an internship with the New Jersey Audubon Society. "Right in the middle of Linden — I had no idea."

For years, the 55-acre landfill had been a point of contention between the state and city. Originally slated to close in 1982, the city-owned landfill continued accepting waste until 2000, Mayor Richard Gerbounka said. In the meantime, Linden racked up nearly $1 million in fines from the state Department of Environmental Protection for various violations. Eventually, Gerbounka said, the city closed and capped the landfill, at cost of $13.5 million.

As part of a 2007 settlement over the outstanding fines, the city agreed to invest the $1 million and develop the nature preserve. Linden invested an additional $1 million to develop 1½ miles of trails and other improvements, the mayor said.

View full sizeRuss DeSantis/For The Star-LedgerThe former Linden Landfill is now a wildlife refuge. Kelly Wenzel, left, project coordinator of the Urban Education program at N.J. Audobon, conducts a tour of the refuge for RVCC students Michael Hennessey, middle, of Basking Ridge, and David Couto, right, of Bridgewater.

At the same time, the DEP committed $1 million in state Green Acres funding, including funds from a separate settlement with Merck & Co. over groundwater contamination in the area.

Before the landfill closed, Linden Historical Society president Beatrice Bernzott was instrumental in getting an adjacent piece of land preserved. That tract, consisting of several dozen acres the city wanted to use for a recycling center and golf course, instead became part of the Hawk Rise.

"It was Cancer Alley for years," said Bernzott, 83. "But Hawk Rise is the future for Linden."

Plans call for harvesting methane from the landfill for energy, as well as installing solar panels and windmills to produce clean energy, Gerbounka said.

Though the process of closing the landfill was sometimes "frustrating," he said, the DEP had good intentions and he’s now happy with the results.

"I’m not an environmentalist," Gerbounka said, "but I’m excited."

Tucked between the red maple, pin oak and sweetgum trees, groundwater testing wells still stick out of the ground along the trail, but aquatic and plant life are flourishing, said Kelly Wenzel, New Jersey Audubon’s project coordinator for the site.

View full sizeRuss DeSantis/For The Star-LedgerThe former Linden Landfill is now a wildlife refuge. Raritan Valley Community College student Emily Willoughby, of Belle Mead, uses her binoculars to scope out the wildlife refuge.

A herd of deer has even taken up residence in the relatively small preserve, which sits just east of Routes 1&9 and is surrounded by industry, the municipal animal shelter and a gun range. Wenzel said birds in particular look to the preserve on their migratory flights.

"When birds are flying by, this is the one (undeveloped) dark spot in the area," she said, adding that the Linden school system plans to bring students there for science field trips.

Wolf Skacel, the DEP’s assistant commissioner for compliance and enforcement, said the nature of his job doesn’t normally get him warm welcomes. But it’s been different as his office and Linden have worked together.

"It takes an urban environment and allows people within a few minutes to get into a wild place," Skacel said of the preserve. "What they’ve done is take an inaccessible piece of property and turn it into a park that is for everybody."

41 Acres Preserved in Tewksbury, Hunterdon County

For all those people who have no idea what New Jersey has to offer besides guidos, permatans, traffic and the airport, take a look at this. You're welcome.

Courtesy NJConversation.org

TEWKSBURY TWP. – Forty-one agricultural acres have been added to New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s Hill & Dale property, enlarging it to 142 acres and boosting farmland preservation in the area.

The newly preserved property is at the intersection of Hill & Dale and Parsonage Lot roads, and includes corn and hay fields, a wooded stream corridor and two small cottages. It abuts the original 101 acres preserved last summer as a nature and agricultural preserve.

“We’re very excited to expand the Hill & Dale Preserve, and are grateful to all of the donors and partners who made this possible,” said Michele Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “To us, a preserve that protects both agriculture and open space is the best of all worlds.”

The land was purchased using funding from the State Agriculture Development Committee, Hunterdon County and numerous private donors from the community.

“The State Agriculture Development Committee is very pleased to partner in this cooperative project to permanently protect this farm to ensure the land forever remains available for agricultural use, and to further farmland preservation efforts in the Highlands Preservation Area,” said Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher.

Farm lanes and trails surrounding the preserve’s cultivated agricultural fields are open to the public for hiking, horseback riding and nature observation. The upper section of the preserve offers a view of the surrounding Hunterdon County countryside, while the lower section provides access to the Rockaway Creek and two tributaries.

“This land acquisition represents the continued commitment to land preservation by Hunterdon County and its partners,” said Hunterdon County Freeholder Matt Holt.  “Having walked this site several times, I can say it is one of the jewels in preserved sites in the northern part of our county.  We look forward to continuing to preserve great land parcels such as the Hill & Dale Preserve.”

The Hill & Dale Preserve is part of the landmark 310-acre Hill & Dale Farm, whose distinctive Dutch barns were originally built nearly a century ago for dairy farming. More recently, the farm has been used for horses.

“We’re delighted that the second phase closed and that the property is now in the hands of New Jersey Conservation Foundation,” said seller Michael Rothpletz. He noted that in addition to purchasing 142 acres, New Jersey Conservation Foundation is helping his family with farmland preservation on its 150 remaining acres.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve land and natural resources throughout New Jersey. Since 1960, the foundation has helped preserve more than 120,000 acres of open space and farmland.

48-Acre Farm Preserved in Cumberland County

Yay! Another area I have intended to visit for a while. Maybe when I go on vacation in September ...?
Article courtesy NJConservation.org

HOPEWELL TWP. - A 48-acre farm along the Cohansey River in Hopewell Township has been permanently preserved through a partnership between Cumberland County, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the state’s Farmland Preservation Program and the Open Space Institute. 

The farm, owned by Carmen Adamucci, is located at the intersection of Sanitarium and Aitkin roads in the Dutch Neck section of the township. Vegetable crops are grown in the fields, which are separated from the river’s marshlands by a hedgerow. 

Development rights to the farm were purchased using funding from Cumberland County, the State Agriculture Development Committee, and a grant to New Jersey Conservation Foundation from the Open Space Institute. Although the land will continue to be owned by Mr. Adamucci, it will be permanently restricted for agricultural use. 

“This farm was a high priority for preservation because of its prime soils and close proximity to the river,” said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “The preservation effort was made even more urgent because it was once proposed for a housing development.” 

The Cohansey River corridor is critical for wildlife habitat, especially waterfowl, marine life and birds like bald eagles. Preservation of the Adamucci farm will help protect water quality in the river and surrounding marshes, and the region’s remaining forests. 
“With its high-quality soils, the Adamucci farm is a valuable addition to Cumberland County’s roster of preserved farmland,” said Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher, who chairs the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) that administers New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program. “The SADC was pleased to provide a grant toward the preservation of this farm, and we look forward to working with our partners to preserve many more farms in Cumberland County.” 

Cumberland County Freeholder Tom Sheppard said the county is glad to have more farmland preserved so it can continue to be the production center of the Garden State. “Without the critical mass of good land that has not been developed, we would be unable to hold the businesses that depend on commercial growers to survive,” said Sheppard. “From the stores that sell supplies, to the farms and their workers, to the banks that handle the money, all of Cumberland County benefits.” 

“The Open Space Institute is very pleased to have been a part of the successful completion of the Adamucci Farm preservation through a grant from its Bayshore-Highlands Fund,” said Peter Howell, OSI’s executive vice president. “This farm will add to the corridor of exceptionally rich and productive farmland in Hopewell Township along the north shore of the Cohansey River. The permanent protection of the Adamucci Farm will also add to the rich mosaic of farmland and forests, marshland and wetlands in the area which serve as prime habitat for species such as the bald eagle, endangered shorebirds other diverse and rare wildlife.” 

The Adamucci farm is the first of several farms in the Dutch Neck neighborhood – the area within a wide bend of the Cohansey in Hopewell Township - that are being targeted for preservation.