Morris County group paid $87,000 for project
By:Michael Maugeri
MOUNT HOLLY A Morris County firm was hired by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders to conduct a study on how to keep the "farm belt" area along Route 206 economically viable.
Mark Remsa, director of the county’s Department of Economic Development and Regional Planning, said the consulting group Heinrich-Adelaja-Schilling of Madison was hired at a cost of $87,000.
The study will be funded with part of the $300,000 the freeholders received from a Smart Growth Future Grant aimed to help guide growth in 13 communities, including local municipalities such as Bordentown City, Fieldsboro Borough and Bordentown, Mansfield, New Hanover, North Hanover and Springfield townships.
"The firm was chosen because they are experts in agricultural economics," Mr. Remsa said.
He said the firm will "look at the economic landscape for agriculture and analyze the current trends and obstacles the farming community faces."
Mr. Remsa said the study will include a form of outreach to members of the farming community to get their input about what they think is needed for the Route 206 farm belt area.
The study will take about a year to complete, Mr. Remsa said, with the findings added to data being collected by another firm.
That firm, Orth-Rodgers & Associates, was paid $57,183 in August of 2002 to perform analyses of the corridor. They also were paid with funds from the Smart Growth fund.
Mr. Remsa said the Orth-Rodgers study should be completed in the spring of this year. It includes extensive demographics related to industry, residential and non-residential space, and the financial implications of development and preservation for the communities involved.
Once that is complete, representatives from the municipalities involved in the project will review the predictions of development and determine what changes need to be made to meet the municipalities’ objectives for growth and preservation.

