The Board of Freeholders is expected to approve buying the $1.29 million, 106-acre property on the north side of Broadway Road in South Brunswick.
By: Brian Shappell
An important piece of open space, which includes a large amount of wetlands on Broadway Road, could be a step closer to being preserved in perpetuity tonight.
The Middlesex County Board of Freeholders is expected to approve the $1.29 million purchase of the 106-acre property on the north side of Broadway Road, between Route 130 and Miller Road, tonight (Thursday), said Ralph Albanir, the county’s Parks & Recreation director and chairman of the board’s Open Space Advisory Committee.
"Every possible assessment we could give it has been done," Mr. Albanir said.
In fact, Mr. Albanir said one of the only reasons the board would not approve such a purchase would be if there were environmental concerns. He said that, according to the board’s phase one assessment, there are no such concerns.
Mr. Albanir said the property has been treated as a priority purchase since the 1995 Open Space Plan was adopted.
"There’s a considerable amount of sensitive land on the property," said Mr. Albanir. "It’s wooded and approximately half of the land is considered wetlands."
If the purchase is approved nearly 300 acres in the southeastern corner of the township will have been preserved. In addition to the parcel, a 77-acre tract on Culver Road and a 31-acre tract at the intersection of Friendship and New roads have been preserved in recent years. There also are two parks Sondek Park on New Road and Tall Timbers Park on Culver Road in the area and the Barclay farm on Eiker Road, which is in the state preservation program. In addition, the state is reviewing an application to preserve the 53-acre Kainer Farm on Dey Road and two other farms elsewhere in the township.
The purchase of the open space from current owners C.M. Country Estates Corp. will ensure the land will not be developed.
Mr. Albanir said there was significant concern that the owner would push for development on the land, which is zoned for up to 18 separate residential lots without the need for a variance.
"My understanding is there was pressure to develop the site," he said.
Mr. Albanir said the $1.29 million price tag was negotiated based on two separate appraisals of the property.
Township Council members were pleased when Township Manager Matt Watkins announced the pending purchase.
"It sounds great," Mayor Debbie Johnson said Wednesday. "Certainly, the more we can preserve, the better. I’m confident the freeholders will make a good decision that benefits us."

