Hainesport, Burlington County, Farm Preserved

By Rose Krebs, Burlington County Times


HAINESPORT — The Township Committee has authorized $101,535 to purchase the development rights for the 80-acre Murphy farm off Fenimore Road.
At its meeting Tuesday night, the committee approved the purchase as part of the county’s farmland preservation program. Under the program, municipalities are responsible for 20 percent of the costs.

The price per acre was $7,425, Township Administrator Paul Tuliano said. About 68 acres are in Hainesport and the rest are in Lumberton, Tuliano said. In 2010, the Lumberton Township Committee authorized $17,820 to cover its portion of the costs.

The Murphy farm is the last one in town to be preserved, Mayor Michael Dickinson said.
“The most important thing is our part in keeping New Jersey green and thriving,” Dickinson said.

The farm is near South Jersey Regional Airport and home to D-J Excavating Inc. The family-owned company is a “full-service excavating, hauling and topsoil delivery” business that also rents trash containers, according to its website.

D-J Excavating, which has been in business since 1976, also offers leaf deposit services to various municipalities, including Hainesport, Tuliano said. The farm produces field crops.
“(The farm) is located in a part of town that public sewer and water isn’t permitted,” he said. “The county wanted it (preserved). It’s the last big farm in Hainesport that is not preserved.”
Many homes likely would not have been built on the land because of 5-acre zoning and sewer and water restrictions. Dickinson said officials want to ensure that that part of the town, which borders Mount Laurel and Medford, is preserved in perpetuity.

He said there is commercial development in the area and that officials want to make sure that the farm stays as is.

The Burlington County Board of Freeholders approved the purchase-of-development rights for the farm in 2010 at a cost of $594,000.

Rose Krebs: 609-871-8064; email: rkrebs@phillyBurbs.com; Twitter: @rosekrebs

Over 500 Acres Preserved in Vineland!

This is a biggie. 519 acres are being preserved in Vineland, Cumberland County. Under the agreement with the seller, about 42 acres have been earmarked an "exception area," which he can then develop. Maybe the housing market will continue to suck and he'll eventually preserve that, too! In either case, 500-plus acres is a big, big get.


As an aside, one wonders if the writer of this piece, Joseph Smith, is not a fan of such big purchases. Instead of focusing on the land preservation aspect, he chose to focus on the amount of money allocated for the purchase when writing the headline. 


Check out the original article here. Photo credit: Joe Moore

N.J. spends big on Vineland land

VINELAND - New Jersey now owns the development rights to a tract of East Vineland farmland once slated to host a massive music festival.

The 519 acres, off Hance Bridge Road, now are restricted permanently by deed to strictly agricultural uses. That category doesn't include festivals, according to the State Agricultural Development Committee.

The state Farmland Preservation program paid $2 million for the rights, closing the deal Dec. 17, state agriculture department Secretary Douglas H. Fisher announced Monday.

The farm acreage is among about 563 acres that the Elwyn Institute sold in July 2009 to Vineland businessman Daniel Cervini for $4 million. The nonprofit institute has owned the land since 1981, when it took control of what then was known as The Training School at Vineland.

Cervini, who owns an automobile design business, did not return a phone call for comment about the transaction.

In 2009, Cervini obtained city zoning board approval to turn former cottages on the historic property into single-family housing. He also obtained approval to subdivide two small lots from the property for construction of a single-family house on each lot.

Fisher noted that the purchase was the largest farm rights purchase ever in Cumberland County. It also is the fourth largest acquisition New Jersey has made itself.

"The preservation of the Cervini farm represents a significant state investment in the future of agriculture in Cumberland County and in the community of Vineland," said Fisher, a former Cumberland County freeholder.

The acquisition also is notable in the context of the Vineland farming community, where farms tend to be small. Preservation efforts had netted only eight farms and 315 acres until the Cervini deal.

Mayor Robert Romano thought Cervini made the right choice to preserve the land. He knew Cervini had been considering either putting a solar field on the land or giving it to the state for farm preservation.

"I'm glad that's what the property is going to be used for because that's land preservation for Vineland," Romano said.

Hope Gruzlovic, a spokeswoman for the State Agricultural Development Committee, said Cervini applied to the state in March 2008 after signing a purchase contract on the land with Elwyn. He had first sought to enroll in county government's preservation program but the transaction was too large for the county to finance.

The city had been pegged to play host to what was to be called the Vineland Music Festival, to be held in the summer of 2009. But the plan fell apart following vocal opposition from residents in the area.
Gruzlovic said the sale agreement allows Cervini to carve out a 42-acre "exception area" around existing buildings on the land he bought from Elwyn. The exception area is adjacent to the 519-acre tract.

Cervini can subdivide and sell that exception area. He is allowed to have up to 10 single-family residences there.

Vineland Planner Steve Hawk said Cervini's zoning approval allows him to convert five old cottages on the property and three other buildings into housing for a total of eight dwellings. A former chapel may be turned into a community center.

"The remaining lands would be this big open (farm) piece," Hawk said. "However, he does have the ability to subdivide two lots off Hance Bridge Raod for single-family development. They are roughly 3.2 acres and 2.2 acres."

That area of the city is zoned for farms and woodlands.

"To have that preserved is in the spirit of those zones," Hawk said of the Farmland Preservation deal.

70 acres in N. Brunswick, 30 in Bridgewater expected to be preserved

The Bridgewater article:

BRIDGEWATER — Township Council approved the introduction of an ordinance to buy the development rights for about 30 acres at 791 Newmans Lane so that the property is restricted for farm use only and not built out with housing.

The township will pay $120,000 per acre or a total purchase price of $3,108,000, which will come out of the taxpayer-funded open space trust fund.

The council introduced a second ordinance to purchase outright about 6 acres that is part of the same property at 791 Newmans Lane, to be used solely for open space and recreation. The purchase price of $928,000 will also be paid from the open space trust fund.

A public hearing on the purchases will take place during the October 18 council meeting starting at 7:30 p.m. to be held inside the Bridgewater Municipal Courtroom at 100 Commons Way.

The township had been attempting to preserve the property from development for several years now, according Township Administrator James Naples speaking at the October 4 council meeting.

Purchasing the development rights on the 25.9 acres and buying the other 5.8 acres outright was accomplished after Mayor Patricia Flannery had established a rapport with the family that owns the land, Naples said.

If council approves the 5.8-acre acquisition, that property then can be used for active and passive recreation, he said.

“This has been property that has been on our radar screen for the better part of 10 years,” said Councilman Allen Kurdyla.

The councilman asked Naples what the amount of money was needed to purchase the 25.9 acres, not just the development rights.

“I know the goal eventually is to own the property,” Kurdyla said.

“My concern is that this is a significant amount of money coming out of the open space fund,” said Councilman Christine Henderson Rose.

She emphasized that no money is likely to go back into open space trust fund any time soon.

“It is possible that some of this money will be reimbursed,” said Bridgewater Township Attorney William Savo, explaining that the township could receive grant money for open space preservation through Somerset County by way of the Green Acres program run by of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Council President Moench said he wanted a status report at the October 18 meeting on the amount of money still remaining in the open space trust fund and what monies are already allocated either for land purchases or open space development.

Naples said that there is about $12 million currently in the fund. About $3 million of that has already been dedicated to developing passive and active recreation at several existing open space properties, and roughly $4 million, if approved, would be spent on the Newmans Lane property.

“We’ll have roughly $3 or $4 million left,” Moench said.

*
The North Brunswick article:

Mayor Francis "Mac" Womack and others in municipal government are open to ideas for using the tract known as Pulda Farm, now that the council, as had been expected, voted unanimously to purchase the property after years of debate.

"There was a suggestion from the public that we could use it as some sort of community garden...It is a good suggestion and we will consider it," said Township Administrator Robert Lombard. "We expect that it (the farm) will remain open space."

The council on Monday voted to purchase what is one of the last agricultural tracts in North Brunswick, agreeing to pay $22 million for the 70-acre parcel bordering Farrington Lake.

Lombard said it could take "a couple of months" before paperwork for the transaction is completed.

The farm is one of the township's last undeveloped properties and had been the focus of various plans for possible development for more than a decade.

Groups that worried about North Brunswick's population density pushed for keeping the farm out of the hands of developers. They have applauded the decision to purchase and preserve the tract. Womack had said half of the $22 million is to be paid by the county through open-space funds. Township officials hope to get $5.5 million through New Jersey's Green Acres program, with the township paying the remaining $5.5 million.

The property is located at 300 Old Georges Road.

Preserved land catch-up! Where have you been??

Please forgive me! Since Morristown Patch has started, my life has been consumed by everything Morristown. Now, finally, things are starting to settle down and I am going to try and catch myself up on some of the great preservation projects that have happened since mid-July. Wish me luck!

Medford, Shamong farmland to be preserved

By Carol Comegno, from Courier Post, Sept. 9, 2010

(There was no photo with the story, so I have included one of Lake Atsion, in Shamong)

MOUNT HOLLY — Burlington County and the state are preserving another 1,211 acres of farmland in the Pinelands in Medford and Shamong.

The Burlington County Board of Freeholders unanimously approved the expenditure of more than $1 million Wednesday night to secure property easements on two farms that will preserve them by banning any development but agriculture.

The county is purchasing those rights for 702 acres of the Brick Farm on Jackson Road in Medford for $666,198 at $949 per acre. The state is preserving the other 400 acres by purchasing the land outright through its Green Acres program.

The Pinelands Commission is giving the county a $115,000 grant to help buy the rights to the Brick Farm, which is in cranberry and blueberry production. The farm is also in a special agricultural production area within the preservation area of the Pinelands rather than in a Pinelands development area.

The county is also expecting a reimbursement from the state Green Acres program for up to 60 percent of its share of the cost.

"These are unique acquisitions in a unique area of Burlington County," Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio said. "These are working farms that contribute not only to the county's agricultural industry but also to our Pinelands heritage."

The listed owner is Brick Enterprises. Bob Brick, owner of Medford Concrete Co. and a family member and a principal in Brick Enterprises, said his family has farmed the ground and wants to keep it in farming. "This seems to be a good way to do that. I think the county program has been pretty successful," he added.

Larry Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the state will not disclose the price it will pay for approximately 400 acres until the pending sale contract is signed. He said the department is hoping that will occur in the next two months.

"Pinelands regulations are zoning regulations that provide a good level of protection but not permanent protection," Hajna said.

"Moreover, the acquisition will be added to the Wharton State Forest, the largest state forest in New Jerseywith more than 100,000 acres."

To pay the easement cost, the county is using property taxes from its special trust account for open space, farmland and historic preservation that is financed by a four-cent property tax approved by county voters.

The other farm being preserved by the county, at a cost of $453,658 for 109 acres, is the Abrams Farm at Route 620 and Old Schoolhouse Road in Shamong at $4,162 per acre. Pearl Abrams, owner of the vegetable farm, was unavailable for comment.

These two farms boost the number of farmland acres preserved throughout the county to close to 30,000. The county goal is 40,000 acres.

Reach Carol Comegno at (856) 486-2473 or ccomegno@courierpostonline.com.

***

Maple Lane Farm in Hillsborough Preserved

D&R Greenway Land Trust press release (drgreenway.org)

Maple Lane Farm on Township Line Rd., Hillsborough,was poised for development. With its 57 acres located just east of Route 206 in the desirable community of Hillsborough, the property could have become yet another suburban subdivision.

The family who had owned the land for many years wanted to see the property remain a farm.  They sought a solution that would meet their financial needs while providing for the permanent protection of the land.   The landowners were friends of D&R Greenway Trustee, Rosemary Blair.  When she found out the family wanted to preserve their farm, Mrs. Blair called D&R Greenway's Director of Land Preservation, Bill Rawlyk, to see if an answer could be found.

 

According to Mr. Rawlyk, "The majority of the property is agricultural land with hedgerows and forested buffer along Pikes Run.  The NJDEP Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) has documented bobolink nesting on the field and meadowlarks have been observed.  In the forested areas the ENSP had documented great blue heron.  The bobolink is classified as a threatened species and the meadowlark and great blue heron are classified as a species of concern in New Jersey.  Declining populations are due, in part, to lack of adequate breeding habitat.  "Having the ability to preserve New Jersey's farming heritage and creating synergy with habitat protection made this a great project."

 

"Having the ability to preserve New Jersey's farming heritage and creating synergy with habitat protection made this a great project."   Bill Rawlyk, Director of Land Preservation at D&R Greenway

The property provides for aquifer recharge and stream corridor and wetlands protection, as well as habitat for woodland species.  In addition, the property contributes to an assemblage of 600 acres of preserved farmland.

Working closely with the family, D&R Greenway developed a three-part strategy to finance the preservation of the land while, at the same time, serving the best interests of the public. 

 

Step one was for D&R Greenway to apply, on behalf of the family, to the Somerset County Farmland Preservation Program. Somerset County purchased an agricultural easement on the property for $1,096,699 with grants from three sources: the New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee; a federal grant from the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) - administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - that was  contributed by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation; and county preservation funds.  As preservedfarmland, Maple Lane Farm will continue to provide a hay crop, and continue to contribute to the local agricultural economy.
"The Somerset County Agriculture Development Board and Board of Freeholders have funded the preservation of over 8,000 acres since the inception of the Somerset County Farmland Preservation Program, with the largest portion in Hillsborough Township," said Somerset County Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, the program's liaison. "We are very happy that we were able to take advantage of federal funding through a partnership with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation for the preservation of the Maple Lane Farm. This farm will be a proud addition to our inventory of preserved farmland in Somerset County." 
Step two was for D&R Greenway to purchase the now deed-restricted Maple Lane Farm and farm the land in a manner that will also enhance and sustain grassland bird habitat.  A $199,500 Raritan Piedmont Wildlife Habitat Partnership (RPWHP) grant from Conservation Resources, Inc. allowed for the acquisition.   Conservation Resources Inc. (CRI) is a non-profit organization providing financial and technical services to the conservation community in New Jersey.  Funding for the grant was provided to CRI by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
"Maple Lane Farm is one of the priority tracts identified in the RPWHP Grassland Conservation Plan," said Anne Heasly, Vice President of CRI, who also serves as the RPWHP Coordinator. "Preservation of this critical habitat will help ensure that grassland birds will remain a part of the natural heritage of the Central Piedmont area of New Jersey," she explained. 

Step three will be for D&R Greenway to showcase Maple Lane Farm as a model for the agricultural and conservation communities. The property will serve as a demonstration site showing how farmland and wildlife management can complement each other.
D&R Greenway's Executive Director Linda Mead observed "Given limited funding resources and a tremendous need to preserve New Jersey's remaining undeveloped lands, projects like Maple Lane Farm are extremely valuable.  We see this dynamic in our work in Salem County - where preserving economically-significant farmland also provides protection for an internationally-significant waterfowl habitat known as Mannington Meadows - and on our
St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell - where productive farmland and adjacent natural land complement each other.  Projects like these are win-win; the preservation of both agricultural and conservation lands doubles the benefit to the community."
Madelyn Berger Belliveau, the family member who worked with D&R Greenway to save Maple Lane Farm attests, "The family of John Van Dyke and Blanche Mertz Berger are proud that Maple Lane Farm will remain undeveloped.  We would like to extend our thanks to Rosemary Blair and special thanks to Bill Rawlyk of D&R Greenway for making this preservation possible."

***

106-acre Farm in Franklin Township, Warren County, Preserved (The Land Conservancy of New Jersey)

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is pleased to announce that the Santini Trust Farm in Franklin Township, Warren County has been permanently preserved. This 106-acre farm is owned by the Clara S. Santini and the Santino J. Santini Testament Trust (“Santini Trust”) and has been protected through the purchase of an agricultural easement ensuring the land remains farmland in perpetuity.

Negotiated by The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, this property was preserved using funds provided by Franklin Township’s local Open Space Trust Fund, with matching grants from the Warren County Agricultural Development Board, State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program.

This farm was targeted as a priority under Franklin Township’s Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan, written by the Conservancy and the Township. The farm is located within one of the Plan’s main project areas, the Pohatcong Valley West Project Area. The Plan allowed the Township to qualify for grant funds provided by the State Agriculture Development Committee through the municipal farmland Planning Incentive grant program. This is an important funding source for municipalities throughout New Jersey for farmland preservation. Preserving this farm helps retain the rural, agrarian beauty and economy of the area, as well as protect the Santini family’s interest in farming.

Approximately seventy percent of the farm contains prime farmland soils needed to produce a high yield of crops. A tributary of the Pohatcong Creek bisects the property and preservation of the farm will help ensure protection of this stream and its watershed.

“The preservation of this farm insures permanent protection for prime farmland in a region with a long and productive history of agricultural activity," said Bob Canace, Land Preservation Specialist with The Land Conservancy of New Jersey. "Preservation of this fertile farmland greatly advances Franklin Township and Warren County’s commitment to protecting its best farmland for future generations. The acquisition is a prime example of how towns, counties, the state, and the federal government can pool resources to protect important farmland before it succumbs to development.”

The Conservancy would like to recognize the efforts of Stefanie Miller of the SADC, for helping Franklin Township obtain the federal funding and coordinating the property’s closing with Warren County. Katrina Campbell, the County’s attorney, also worked extremely hard to ensure the farm closed by the end of the State’s fiscal year. Thanks to them and the Township of Franklin, their commitment to farmland preservation ensured this project was a success.

***

Old Bridge will finally get its Cottrell Farm

County, state help town come up with $10.6 million for orchard, adjacent tract

BY LAUREN CIRAULO Staff Writer

A five-year mission to preserve 63 acres of land in the center of Old Bridge will soon be accomplished, thanks to financial assistance from several parties.
In a joint effort by Old Bridge, Middlesex County, the state of New Jersey and the NY/NJ Baykeeper, the township will purchase the 27 acres that were formerly home to the Cottrell Farm, and an adjacent 36 acres known as Whitney Estates. The two tracts, at Route 516 and Cottrell Road, will be acquired for $10.6 million and preserved as open space.

“This certainly needed to be a combined effort to acquire these properties,” Mayor Jim Phillips said. “But everyone stepped up to the plate and wholeheartedly agreed that this land needed to be preserved.”

Phillips said that while the acquisition has proved to be a long and difficult process, it was necessary in order to prevent extensive development on the two tracts.

In 2003, Old Bridge granted Gerald Cernero, owner of the Wall Townshipbased development firm Jerald Development Corp., a 10-year general development plan (GDP) approval for Carriage House Crossing, which called for the construction of a 120,725-square-foot retail and office space, 83 age-restricted townhouse units, and 129 second-floor apartments on the property.

The Planning Board rejected Cernero’s plan in December 2008 “without prejudice,” meaning that the developer could ask for an interpretation from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, an opportunity the builder chose to pursue. After several rounds of testimony, zoning board members voted Jan. 7 that certain aspects of the plan were not permitted under township ordinances, and therefore the applicant would need to seek a use variance.

However, the new application never materialized, and the township finally succeeded in purchasing both properties from Cernero five years after municipal officials began working on the acquisition.

“It was too many potatoes in too small of a bag,” Phillips said in reference to the developer’s plan. “It wasn’t going to happen. This economic climate does not lend itself to his project.”

The recent economic turmoil did not help the township’s position either, Phillips said, but Old Bridge was fortunate to have several supporters.

For the impending purchase, Old Bridge will contribute $2.4 million from its open space trust fund, which has been accumulated through the township’s open space tax over the past 10 years. NY/NJ Baykeeper will spend $200,000, and the state Green Acres program has pledged $1.6 million. But the largest portion will come from the Middlesex County Open Space Acquisitions Fund — a $6.36 million contribution.


“This could not have happened without the technical expertise and due diligence of the county, not to mention their generous contribution,” Phillips said. “They provided the financial resources that really made this work.”

Jerald Development will be required to fix some environmental issues on the property before the properties are officially handed over, the mayor said. He noted that minor asbestos and mold in some of the tracts’ buildings will be remediated, as well as arsenic residue in the orchard.


Maintaining the farm?

As for the future of the properties, Phillips said he would like the township to get back to its agricultural roots by restoring the orchards and opening them to the public as a “pickyour own operation.” He also mentioned the possibility of holding the Old Bridge Farmers Market on the land, as well as opening a pumpkin patch or petting zoo.

“The township purchased the Lambertson Farm, and we put the land to good use,” Phillips said. That land was slated for a municipal golf course but has remained a farm as the township leases it to a local farmer.

The mayor also noted that he would extend an offer to Herbert Cottrell, whose family has farmed the land for generations, to stay on the property and run the farm.

“He’s done a remarkable service for the people of Old Bridge,” Phillips said of Cottrell. “I hope he will continue to stay.”

Though the purchase has not been finalized, Phillips said he feels a sense of accomplishment in acquiring the land and preventing the development.

“I love pizza, but I think I’d rather look at apple trees and a historical carriage house, barn and farmhouse than look at a pizza parlor or a nail salon or another housing development,” Phillips said. “It’s personally gratifying for me — I never saw the wisdom in his plan. But I won’t be truly satisfied until those orchards are open to the public.”

***

40 acres preserved in Bethlehem Twp., next to Tower Hill, Jugtown reserves

The Hunterdon County Democrat

BETHLEHEM TWP. — Some 40 acres of forest and wetlands here have been preserved by the Hunterdon Land Trust, the New Jersey Audubon Society, the township and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority for a total cost of $285,000.

Nestled between land already preserved by the authority and Tower Hill and Jugtown reserves, owned by Hunterdon County, the newly preserved property fulfills many important environmental goals.

“One of our goals at the Hunterdon Land Trust is to preserve continuous expanses of land” said Margaret Waldock, the organization’s executive director. “This property was surrounded on three sides by protected land, which increases the positive impact its preservation will have on our county’s water quality, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat and rural character and made it an ideal property for preservation.”

The land is on the south side of Mine Road near Mountain View Road. It’s home to a wealth of wildlife and wildflowers. A variety of birds live in the forest, and the seasonal pools and streams provide breeding habitat for wood frogs, salamanders and the eastern box turtle.

Mulhockaway Creek, part of the Upper Raritan Watershed, crosses the land and runs into Spruce Run Reservoir. “The preservation of this property is important to maintaining the water quality” of the reservoir, said Henry Patterson, executive director, NJWSA. The authority’s water customers fund its contributions through their payments.

New Jersey Audubon Society felt this was an important project given the property’s proximity to existing preserved land, the potential for recreation including the connection of existing trails to Hunterdon County parks, bird watching and nature study as well as its potential to provide habitat for birds and forested wildlife.

The Audubon Society put in $57,000 it received from the Hunterdon County Open Space Trust Fund. Bethlehem Township contributed $85,500, using $71,250 from the state Green Acres program and the balance from their County Open Space trust funds. NJWSA paid $142,500.00, or 50% of the purchase price.

The Hunterdon Land Trust brought together the coalition of partners that worked together to fund the preservation of the property is temporarily managing it.
According to Waldock, “we’ll continue to talk with the county to see if the management of this land can be integrated into work the Department of Parks and Recreation is already doing on the adjacent Jugtown and Tower Hill reserves.”

In the meantime, the Land Trust worked with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to create a link to the Highlands Trail, a “rugged footpath” uniting the Highlands region of New York and New Jersey.

The property can be accessed through the Jugtown or Tower Hill Reserve along the Highland Trail, which is marked with teal, diamond-shaped blazes.

***

242 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Warren County

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

WARREN COUNTY – In a “triple play” of farmland preservation, three Warren County farms totaling 242 acres have been preserved by a partnership between the county, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the State Agriculture Development Committee, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Warren County purchased the development rights on three farms, meaning they will remain in agriculture forever. They are:

• The 108-acre Prant farm in Allamuchy Township, which includes pastures, hay and crop fields, and woodlands along the Pequest River. It is surrounded by Allamuchy State Park and hundreds of acres of preserved farmland;

• The 56-acre Schuster farm in Greenwich Township, located near the Musconetcong River and consisting mostly of corn fields. It is located a short distance from the state’s Musconetcong Wildlife Management Area;

• The 78-acre Demeter farm on Scott’s Mountain in White Township, rolling farmland with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including nearby preserved farmland and open space.

Funded by Partnership

All three easements were purchased using a combination of Warren County farmland preservation funds, a portion of New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s federal Farm and Ranch Lands Preservation Program (FRPP) grant, and state farmland preservation funding through the Planning Incentive Grant program.

“We’re very pleased to help Warren County preserve these three farms, and help maintain the county’s rural and agricultural character,” said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

“The preservation of these farms underscores the important role that partnerships play in reaching New Jersey’s farmland preservation goals,” said Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher, chair of the State Agriculture Development Committee that administers the state Farmland Preservation Program. “I want to particularly commend Warren County for maintaining its financial commitment to farmland and open space preservation, and ensuring that the County remains a strong funding partner during these challenging fiscal times.”

Robert Resker, head of Warren County’s land preservation program, said he is grateful to New Jersey Conservation Foundation for its readiness to commit part of its annual Farm and Ranch Lands Preservation Program grant to Warren County.

“The county saved about $300,000, a pretty significant amount” that otherwise would have been taken from its farmland preservation fund, Resker said. “It was very much appreciated and very helpful.”

The Prant farm easement cost $538,620, the Schuster farm easement cost $330,513, and the Demeter farm easement cost $668,388.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a private nonprofit whose mission is to preserve land and natural resources throughout New Jersey for the benefit of all. Since 1960, the Foundation has protected more than 120,000 acres, or 187 square miles. For more information on programs and preserves, visit www.njconservation.org or call 1-888-LAND-SAVE (1-888-526-3728).

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48 Acres Preserved for Open Space in Montville

Daily Record

MONTVILLE — The township, with assistance from the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, has preserved 48 acres of land owned by Robin Starkey for a new park to be named Starkey Park, according to Barbara McCloskey of the conservancy.

The property, located on the corner of River Road and Millers Lane, is one of only a few undeveloped properties remaining in the township and will be part of the Montville Greenway, offering recreational opportunities to residents, said McCloskey, who is the conservancy's membership program manager.

It will be used for hiking, picnicking, cross-country skiing and bird watching. The township also is considering adding fields in the future for sports.

This is the 16th property the township has preserved in partnership with The Land Conservancy, for a total of 567 acres since 1999.

The conservancy is an accredited land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey's vital natural lands and water resources. The Conservancy has preserved more than 16,500 acres of land and helped towns receive $192 million in grants to purchase and protect land throughout New Jersey.

The Conservancy has worked with more than 76 municipalities in 13 counties, impacting over half of New Jersey's counties and benefiting millions of residents throughout the state.

West Milford to preserve Random Woods through grant (07/16/10)

West Milford is the northern-most township in Passaic County. At just over 80-square-miles, it's also the largest. Its population, as of 2007, was 27,839, not very large considering the township's size, but consider this: according to census data from 1930, its population was 1,901. West Milford is located in the Highlands Preservation Area, meaning there are additional restrictions to what can be developed and where.

Story originally appeared here.

West Milford to preserve Random Woods through grant

Friday, July 16, 2010

AIM WEST MILFORD

WEST MILFORD—With the assistance of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, a 98-acre parcel of land known as "Random Woods" was recently preserved by West Milford.

Situated in the hills of the New Jersey Highlands, Random Woods is located on Ridge Road and in close proximity to municipal complexes and the central downtown area.

It was previously the subject of a development application and prior to the implementation of the Highlands Act in 2004, it had preliminary approval for 103 single family homes.

The $2.1 million project was funded with Passaic County and Green Acres grants. The preservation of this land represents an addition to the municipality where there is a need for additional athletic fields and recreational facilities.

While more than 90-percent of the parcel will remain undisturbed and available to the public for recreation, a small portion will be used to establish new athletic fields.

The acquisition of Random Woods also furthers an existing and expanding greenway and supports conservation goals identified in the Highlands Water Protection & Planning Act of 2004, which seeks to preserve extensive and contiguous areas of land in its natural state (forests, wetlands, stream corridors, and critical wildlife habitat) and protect New Jersey’s drinking water resources.

"We are very excited about the recent acquisition of the Random Woods property, which will preserve an additional 100 acres within the township while also providing for a multi-purpose ball field at no cost to our residents," Mayor Bettina Bieri said. "This acquisition adheres to the township's philosophy, which prioritizes open space acquisitions not solely based on its environmental sensitivity but also based on its potential to directly benefit the community via active recreational opportunities."

N.J. buys, preserves 126-acre farm in Frankford (07/08/10)

A bumper crop of good news!

By Joe Moszczynski, for The Star-Ledger
FRANKFORD — A 126-acre farm located near the Sussex County fairgrounds in Frankford will be saved in perpetuity as a working farm, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey announced today.

Land Conservancy President David Epstein said the development rights for the Bain farm, located near the corner of Route 206 and Plains Road, were purchased from the Bain family for nearly $1 million.

The Land Conservancy, a Boonton-based nonprofit group, contributed $500,000 toward the purchase price with a grant from the state Agricultural Development Committee.

Other contributors included the Sussex County Agricultural Development Committee, through the county’s Open Space Trust Fund, the federal Farm and Ranchland Protection program and the Township of Frankford.

"It’s really a very special place," said Epstein, noting the tract is located atop a sloping ridge near the Paulinskill River.

The fields at the Bain Farm are also an important habitat for unique wildlife, including ground-nesting birds such as the Bobolink, a migrant blackbird which is declining in number due to the loss of habitat to development, he said.

The farm was originally purchased by the great-grandfather of Tom Bain, whose name appears at the site of the farm on an 1860 map of Sussex County.

"Preserving the farm means a lot to me. I look forward to telling my grandchildren that this is the property that made up the farm held so long by our family. It is good to know that it will always look like a farm and never be covered by pavement," said Tom Bain.

The Bain family currently leases the tract to a farmer and it will later be offered for sale with a deed restriction that prohibits future development. When the land is sold, the Land Conservancy will use the proceeds to purchase the development rights of another farm, said Epstein.

For more information about the Land Conservancy, or to volunteer or make a donation, call (973) 541-1010 or visit tlc-nj.org.

Club land in Hamilton eyed for pricey housing development (06/17/10)

Link to original story here.

Not all stories are good. Personally, one of my biggest gripes about this piece is the writer does not even once bother to ask anyone contacted for the story if land preservation organizations had been contacted about purchasing the land instead of Sharbell, which already has several half-occupied developments collecting dust in Hamilton. It feels like lazy journalism; the AP is even cited as a contributor. Was anyone even interviewed by The Times? While in this current economic climate, it doesn't seem likely this "pricey housing development" would even go up anytime soon, that the Italian American's Sports Club would rather see its property's 90-year-old history turn into a sea of starter castles screams of ignorance and/or indifference.

Hamilton, in Mercer County, is already home to several new developments, many built within the last 10 years. Who thinks another one is a good idea?

Club land in Hamilton eyed for pricey housing development

By Erin Duffy

HAMILTON — The Italian American Sportsmen’s Club has inked a deal to sell more than 30 acres of land to Sharbell Development Corp. for a residential development that could include as many as 50 homes, priced to sell at around $400,000 each.

The IASC, a Kuser Road constant since the 1920s, will retain approximately six acres carved out around its facilities, which include a clubhouse, health club and pool area, according to Tom Troy, the senior vice president of Robbinsville-based Sharbell. 
“We should be good neighbors for one another,” said Troy.

Though club President Frank Bocchini said the deal hasn’t been completely finalized, Troy said an agreement of sale has been signed for roughly 32 acres of the club’s land. 
Troy declined to disclose the financial terms of the deal.

If the deal goes through and Sharbell actually moves ahead with the project, it could be a rarity in the current economy.

“The economy is growing and the housing market is still in recession,” said Eugenio Aleman, senior economist with Wells Fargo Securities, following a report Wednesday of declining housing construction in May.

Overall, new home and apartment construction fell 10 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 593,000, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. April’s figure was revised downward to 659,000.

Applications for new building permits — a sign of future activity — sank 5.9 percent to an annual rate of 574,000. That was the lowest level in a year.

Builders are scaling back now that tax credits of up to $8,000 have expired. The biggest evidence of that trend: the number of new single-family homes tumbled 17 percent, the largest monthly drop since January 1991.

But some builders see opportunity in the down market. Andrew Zuckerman, CEO of Zuckerman Homes in Coconut Creek, Fla., said his company is purchasing land and plans to develop it as early as winter.

“We think now is a good time to buy,” Zuckerman said. “We think the market is slowly stabilizing.”

The rate of home building is still up about 41 percent from the bottom in April 2009. But it’s down 70 percent from the decade’s peak in January 2006.

The Kuser Road club lies behind The Stone Terrace catering and banquet hall, which replaced La Villa Restaurant, and down the road from Veterans Park.

Sharbell plans to use its newly acquired land, which lies to the south and west of the Sportsmen’s Club, to develop single-family homes on 10,000-square-foot lots.

Troy said the company estimates it can build somewhere around 50 homes valued at roughly $400,000 each on the acreage.

The company will be preparing its applications within the next few months, and hopes to appear before the township’s planning board by fall, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Erin Duffy at eduffy@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5723