240 Acres Preserved in Kingwood Twp., Hunterdon County

By Teresa Fasanello


KINGWOOD TWP. — Township officials signed the deed to about 240 acres on the Horseshoe Bend Road property on May 26, after more than five years of negotiations and waiting for funding.

The financial transaction of $5.8 million is expected to take place later in June, Mayor Phillip Lubitz said. About $4.7 million will come from the state Green Acres program, $1.1 million from township open space funds, $444,000 from the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and $150,000 from a Natural Resources of New Jersey grant.

About 73 acres were already purchased last year by the township, the conservation foundation and Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance, bringing the total purchase price to about $6.3 million.

Formerly owned by Deer Run Equestrian Village LLC, the property was subdivided into about 60 residential lots in 2006, and could have become a development if not preserved as open space.

Lubitz called the property “the jewel of all the Hunterdon County parks.”

Use of the property is free to Kingwood Township residents, hikers and “nature lovers” for horseback riding, mountain biking, bird watching and other “passive” recreational activities, he said.

An 11,000-square-foot indoor equestrian center already stands on the property, along with barns and other structures.

Township officials are negotiating with equestrian, biking and hiking associations, and hope to create an agreement for those associations to use the property in exchange for helping to maintain it, according to Committeeman Jim Burke.

21 Acres Preserved in Jackson Twp., Ocean County

By Phil Stilton

             Almost 21 acres of natural lands in Jackson Township will be preserved as open space by the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders.   “This purchase comes with a number of benefits,” said Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee. “It will preserve this land as open space and provide an added buffer to future encroachment of the Joint Base.”

            As part of the acquisition, the military has committed to fund 50 percent of the purchase price of $450,000.        “The location of this property, near the northern boundary of Joint Base – Dix, McGuire, Lakehurst, makes it eligible for the cost share funding from the Department of Defense,” said Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. “This continuing partnership shows our commitment to the Joint Base and the military’s commitment to continue to work with Ocean County.

 “The purchase helps to minimize future encroachments to base operations,” Kelly said.  Kelly noted that a recently completed Joint Land Use Study with the military bases, surrounding municipalities, Burlington and Ocean counties identified the preservation of certain lands as important to provide a buffer for the Joint Base.

“This parcel is consistent with that recommendation,” Kelly said. The land is located along Toms River Road (County Road 571) and Lakehurst Road in Jackson Township. It is across from properties already preserved.  “This parcel contains a small tributary to the Ridgeway Branch of the Toms River which has been recognized as an important critical habitat corridor,” Bartlett noted. “Acquisition of this property will help create a greenway from the Joint Base north to Patriots’ County Park and the state’s Forest Resource Education Center. This land meets the eligibility requirements of the county’s open space program and has been recommended for preservation by the Natural Lands Advisory Committee.”

The owner of the property is BG Investments @ JoAnn Timbers LLC, Lakewood. “This purchase emphasizes the importance of working in cooperation with different agencies for the best results possible for Ocean County,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “The military’s contribution to this purchase helps Ocean County and the base which is a vital economic and safety engine for the region.”

147 Acres Preserved in Franklin Lakes

By Rebecca K. Abma

Many communities buzz about going green but in Franklin Lakes it's about staying green. The culmination of many years — and many hands — came Saturday as the borough dedicated the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve.

The man-made lake, formerly known as the Haledon Reservoir, and its encompassing 140-plus acres of pristine nature was purchased for $6.5 million in 2006 and is now forever preserved.

It was a dream of many, most notably perhaps Alan Slepp, former chairman of the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve Advisory Committee, who was given the honor of cutting the ribbon. After years of speaking out to preserve the property, Slepp’s response to the day is muffled from post-stroke aphasia. “It's such a beautiful spot, he wanted to save it. We’re very glad,” his daughter, Michelle, translated for him.

Despite the soft weather, dozens of supporters and enthusiasts came out for the opening, which was made possible due to a long list of collaborators: Former Mayor Tom Donch and the council from the time of acquisition through to today, Former Borough Administrator Bob Hoffmann, Former Mayor County Freeholder Maura DeNicola, Tom Lambrix and the Environmental Commission, The Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve Advisory Committee, The Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve Executive Committee, the Shade Tree Commission, Brian Peterson and the DPW, Ann Swist and the Public Events Committee and most importantly the New Jersey Green Acres program and Bergen County Open Space program.

“This is an open space preservation success story,” Borough Administrator Greg Hart said. “Acquisition of this property was feasible only with substantial contributions from the New Jersey Green Acres Program and the Bergen County Open Space Program. Very few parcels of this size, particularly in northern New Jersey, have been preserved. This vast property is forever deed restricted for passive recreation use in accordance with Green Acres and County Open Space regulations.”

The passive recreation at the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve is actually quite active, compared with other nature preserves in the area. Fishing, picnicking, dog walking, bird watching and frolicking are all encouraged.

“We want everyone to enjoy it,” Mayor Frank Bivona said, noting that residents all have a stake in it. “We have to thank the taxpayers for this, too. I like to think of this as a happy tax. We all get to enjoy it, forever.”

The reservoir came into existence in 1919, with a damn built along the Molly Ann Brook, a tributary of the Passaic River that snakes through Paterson, Haledon, Prospect Park, North Haledon and Franklin Lakes. The lake served as the water supply to Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park, until about 10 years ago, when water quality issues arose.

“As is common with surface water supplies, the decomposition of organic matter, such as leaves, affected the taste of the water which also reacted with chlorine during the disinfection process to produce other compounds which are regulated by the NJDEP,” Engineer Kevin Boswell explained. “The Borough of Haledon determined it was more cost-effective to bulk purchase the water from the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) than to treat it for these compounds. The taste of the water from the PVWC was also better. Consequently, it was both an economic as well as a water quality decision.”

After years of negotiations, the borough faced another long road getting the property ready for the public. There were substantial improvements to the Lower Dam roadway, environmental remediation of the old Haledon DPW site, replacement of fencing on Ewing Avenue and High Mountain Road, repair of valves on main dam, countless reports on our two dams, maintaining water quality; more recently, fencing, clearing and expanding the parking area (which is the foundation from the old building), removing hazardous trees, improving drainage along the pathway, setting up a picnic area and sinage.

“The DPW, under the guidance of Supt. Brian Peterson, has been working non-stop in recent months to get this park ready for the people,” Hart said. “We are there, ready to share our park, our Nature Preserve. Walk it, go fishing, check out the wildlife and go birdwatching, try a picnic in the picnic grove, or just relax and enjoy the quiet.”

Patch Fact: The lake is listed as number 15 in the 1998 book, “Gone Fishing: 100 Best Fishing Spots in New Jersey” for its abundance of bass, black crapple, pickerel, carp, catfish and perch. Get your fishing license online or nearby at Ramsey Outdoors in Ramsey and Paramus, the Sports Authority in Paramus or Wayne, of Kmart in Wayne.

89 More Acres Preserved in East Amwell, Hunterdon County

By Walter O'Brien

EAST AMWELL — A group of preservation partners have joined forces to mark the 50th anniversary of the state’s Green Acres Program by preserving scenic Hunterdon grasslands that is a home to threatened species of birds.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), D&R Greenway Land Trust, East Amwell Township, Conservation Resources Inc. (CRI), The Open Space Institute and Hunterdon County have partnered to complete a $2.1 million deal to preserve the 89-acre Cider Mill Road property bordering the ridges of Sourland Mountain with Amwell Valley views.

“We couldn’t have acquired this site without tremendous public and private support,” Linda Mead, D&R Greenway president and CEO, said. “It takes a community of funders to achieve the desired result.”

D&R Greenway secured a contract with landowner Bryce Thompson, and formed the partnership to complete the complex deal.

State Green Acres funding was used, along with monies from New Jersey’s Natural Resource Damages Fund , which itself is funded by damaged paid to NJDEP by polluters. CRI re-granted monies from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Hunterdon County provided funds through their County Nonprofit Grant Program and East Amwell Township used their Green Acres Planning Incentive Grant.

The Cider Mill Road property is noted as a habitat for threatened and endangered grasslands birds including bobolink, eastern meadowlark, savannah and grasshopper sparrows and the American Kestral. The tract is also winter habitat for endangered northern harriers and threatened short-eared owls.

Mead said that the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will be part owners and co-managers of the property with D&R Greenway.

“The (Division) have been outstanding partners in helping to bring the state funding to the table and in providing excellent management guidance as we strive to enhance the habitat values,” Mead said. “They really went out of their way to help make this project happen and it made a difference.”

NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin said that it was nice to kick off the celebration of the Green Acres Program’s 50th anniversary year with such a high quality acquisition as the Cider Mill Preserve.

“D&R Greenway Land Trust was the first land conservancy to close a project with Green Acres nonprofit grant funding in 1991, and now they have led the first major preservation partnership closing in our 50th year in business,” Martin said.

East Amwell Mayor Larry Tatsch said that he is grateful for the many preservation partners that worked together to make this acquisition possible.

“Preservation of this natural grassland, which will be open to the public, helps perpetuate our agricultural heritage and ensures a legacy of natural beauty for generations to come,” Tatsch said.

Walter O'Brien: 908-243-6613; wobrien@njpressmedia.com

Silas Condict Park Expands With 162 Acre Acquisition in Kinnelon

By Ariana Cohn, kinnelon.patch.com

After a decade of efforts made by the borough council, residents and land preservationists, the Borough of Kinnelon announced the acquisition of the 162-acre Weber Tract this month, turning 62 acres of the property over to the Morris County Park Commission to be used as an extension of Silas Condict Park.

"I'm sure that these additional 62 acres only compliment what's already in place," Mayor Bob Collins said Thursday during an event to celebrate the closing at Silas Condict Park.

"As I prepared my comments for today's celebration for the Weber Tract acquisition, I thought about how lengthy and difficult the process of purchasing this property was. But I also thought about how rewarding and remarkable it is, and forever will be, for countless future generations," he said.

Collins thanked the Weber family for being patient throughout what he described as an "arduous" process for the borough to acquire the land.

Morris County Freeholders Tom Mastrangelo, Gene Feyl and Ann Grossi presented the borough with a big check for $2.2 million during the event. Also present at the event was Cindy Randazzo from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Green Acres Program, Glenn Schweizer from the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, Morris County Park Commissioners David Helmer and John Sette and many others involved with the project.

"On behalf of the rest of the board, with Gene and Ann, we're very happy to be part of this celebration regarding the acquisition of the Weber Tract," Mastrangelo said. 

"The purchase of these 162 acres was truly a collaborative effort and I'm proud to say that Morris County was one of the funding partners in this project, along with the Morris County Park Commission and the county's Municipal Utilities Authority."

The borough received more than $2.5 million in grants for the acquisition of the land, Collins said. The Morris County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund contributed $1.4 million; $500,000 was provided by the Morris County Park Commission; $300,000 was contributed by the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority; $300,000 from the New Jersey Green Acres Program; $10,000 was provided by the Land Conservancy of New Jersey; and the borough put in $286,250 from its own Open Space Trust Fund, in addition to $3,750 being raised by Kinnelon residents.

The 62 acres of land transferred to the Morris County Park Commission will be used as an extension of Silas Condict Park while the remaining land will be available to residents for passive recreation, including hiking, snow shoeing and horseback riding.

Since 2005, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey has helped Kinnelon preserve 1,592 acres of land and has contributed $1,324,551 to help with preservation projects. The group serves as open space advisors for more than 30 municipalities statewide, according to President David Epstein.

Epstein said Thursday that the portion of money the Land Conservancy of New Jersey raised for this project was the result of a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) program that helps fund watershed protection projects using money from environmental settlements.

"It was an expensive project and it needed all the dollars it could get," he said.

According to Epstein, before a group of about 50 Kinnelon residents approached the borough about acquiring the land, a development project including more than 140 condominiums was being considered for the site. Epstein said the Land Conservancy of New Jersey got then-mayor Glenn Sisco and Collins involved and on board with the preservation project.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey's goal, he said, is to have adjoining parcels of preserved open space and to develop maps so that hikers can go from a trail in one park and end up on a trail in another. The group displayed such a map during Thursday's event.

President of the Morris County Park Commission John Sette said, "It's nice when this stuff comes to fruition."

"Morris County's been ahead of this for many, many years and we'll stay ahead of it," he said of the commission acquiring open space and building on the county's park system.

"Come back," Collins said at the conclusion of his remarks. "We have a great town, we have a great park system and we have a great county."

More and More Preserved Land (Part One)

This is another "long time coming" round-up of the latest preservation acquisitions throughout the state. So, I may separate this into several posts. Here we go!

407 acres of Gloucester County Farmland to be preserved

WOODBURY, NJ - Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger and Freeholder Frank J. DiMarco announced Friday that six different farms in three municipalities will be permanently preserved. Two of the farms are located in Woolwich, one in South Harrison and three in Franklin Township.

"There were approvals for 89 single family homes to be developed on the Woolwich farms, and 53 more on the South Harrison Farm. When you look at the enormous growth in Woolwich and find ways to permanently preserve land for farming instead of becoming housing developments you make a big impact on the quality of life for everyone," said Freeholder Director Damminger.

The farms to be preserved under the County's traditional Farmland Preservation Program that were approved at Thursday night's Freeholder meeting include a 91.4 acre farm in Woolwich, a 129 acre parcel in Woolwich, and a 31.2 acre farm in South Harrison. These properties all had municipal approval for housing developments. Under the County Farmland Preservation Program, the county is eligible for a 60% reimbursement from the State for the acquisition costs of the land.

Three farms in Franklin Township totaling 155 acres will be preserved using the Planning Incentive Grant (PIG) program and both the county and the municipality will be completely reimbursed for their portion of the funding through a federal grant administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Services - Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

"It is very exciting to help preserve these farms and maintain the agricultural and rural nature of our county. By utilizing the resources available through the federal government and the state, the county and municipality save a combined $373,596 to purchase these farms and save them from development. That is a win for the farmers and the taxpayers," said Freeholder DiMarco, liaison to the Department of Parks and Land Preservation.

According to the New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee, Farms or development easements that are acquired through the Farmland Preservation Program will forever be protected for agricultural use. Landowners who have sold their development rights still can sell their land at any time. Deed restrictions prohibiting non-agricultural development run with the land, so future owners of preserved farms also would be required to comply with the deed restrictions.

The sale of development rights does not make farmland public property. The public has no right to access or use a deed-restricted farm without the landowner's consent.

Continue reading on Examiner.com 407 acres of Gloucester County Farmland to be preserved - Philadelphia Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/buzz-in-philadelphia/407-acres-of-gloucester-county-farmland-to-be-preserved#ixzz1R4V3oscg


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Farm, forest in Warren County preserved under agricultural easement

A 60-acre farm in Warren County will be preserved forever, with agricultural activities allowed to continue, under a partnership between the county, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Franklin Township and the Land Conservancy of New Jersey.

The announcement of the $420,000 farmland easement purchase is the second announcement today of local New Jersey land preserved. Earlier, the D&R Greenway Land Trust announced 30 acres in Raritan Township will be preserved and used for public trails.

The Franklin Township land lies in the Musconetcong River Valley and is known as Apple Valley Farms, onAsbury-Bloomsbury Road, according to a news release from the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. Owned by William Leavens, the farm includes 45 acres planted in soybeans and other vegetable crops and 10 acres of woods with a stream running through it.

The conservation foundation contributed $191,000 from its federal Farm and Ranch Lands Preservation Program grant fund, which has been used to secure agricultural easements on thousands of acres of farmland throughout New Jersey.

"We're pleased to help preserve Apple Valley Farms," said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation, in the release."Preserving this farm will help maintain the rural and scenic character of the Musconetcong River Valley, and the easement will preserve the soils for future farming and food production."

Apple Valley Farms is bordered by preserved farmland to the north and the state's Musconetcong Wildlife Management Area to the south. Nearby are the Musconetcong River and several other parcels of preserved farmland and open space.

A private nonprofit, New Jersey Conservation Foundation has assisted Warren County in preserving several other farms in recent years.

In 2009 and 2010, the foundation used its Farm and Ranch Lands Preservation Program grant fund to help preserve four Warren County farms: the 139-acre Truszkowski farm in Franklin Township, the 108-acre Prant farm in Allamuchy Township, the 78-acre Demeter farm in White Township and the 56-acre Schuster farm in Greenwich Township.

Since 2005, New Jersey Conservation Foundation has been awarded more than $22 million in Farm and Ranch Lands Preservation Program funds by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than any other New Jersey nonprofit.


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Thirty acres of open space preserved in Raritan Township

RARITAN TOWNSHIP — Through a partnership of funders, 30 acres of forest with a meandering stream in the township has been preserved as open space.

Raritan Township, D&R Greenway Land Trust and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority on Feb. 14 finalized the purchase of the 30-acre property along the Plum Brook to be protected permanently as open space with future plans for public trails.

The property is between Plum Brook Road and Old Hill Road, with temporary access through the Michele Cross cul-de-sac.

"Large undisturbed forests, which are increasingly rare in Hunterdon County, support a wide diversity of native plants and wildlife and protect the quality of our streams and rivers," said Amy Greene, chairwoman of the township Open Space Committee.

The Plum Brook and its tributary, the Wickecheoke Creek feed, into the D&R Canal, a drinking water source for Central Jersey residents.

The state Green Acres Program provided a grant for 40 percent of the acquisition price, the New Jersey Water Supply Authority funded 20 percent, D&R Greenway Land Trust utilized a grant from the Hunterdon County Open Space Fund to contribute 20 percent, and the balance was provided by the township's Open Space Fund.

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.