Township open space funds run short

By: Concetta Benuzzi Volpe
   WEST AMWELL — As the township continues its quest to preserve half of its 14,000 acres, open-space preservation funding is running low, and raising the open space tax may be a viable option to assure future acquisition efforts advance, officials say.
   But first, the township is soliciting assistance from land donors, preservationists and volunteers interested in maintaining the municipality’s rural character.
   To date, approximately 3,300 acres of preserved land have been acquired, representing 23 percent of the township’s entire land mass.
   With 1,455 acres in preservation and an additional 1,825 acres set to close by year’s end, the open space program has gained momentum since its inception in 1999.
   Since the program’s inception in 2000, the township has raised $227,000 from open space tax revenues — $48,000 in 2000, $53,000 in 2001 and $126,000 in 2002. With tax assessments on the rise, the project revenue for 2003 is expected to be $150,000 and $160,000 in 2004.
   West Amwell Open Space Advisory Committee member Jamie Kamph said it is difficult to project how much acquisition money is available from the open space trust fund although $193,000 was brought forward from various sources in 2003.
   "A portion of the funds are used to pay up-front costs for bonding and professional service fees involved with Green Acres deals," Ms. Kamph said.
   She added the backing of the entire community has made the program so successful as well as mutually gratifying for the township and property owners.
   "The most rewarding element of closing on open-space acquisitions," Ms. Kamph said, "is the tremendous sense it makes for the township and the good financial sense it makes for the landowners."
   Committee members have been working nonstop since the implementation of the program in 2000 at which time only 308 acres were preserved.
   Committee members successfully have attracted outside funding from the state, county and nonprofit agencies and have worked to leverage the open space tax. But the township cannot continue its current pace without additional community acquisition resources.
   Consequently, members are seeking solutions to resolve the problem.
   According to committee Chairman Hal Shute, the township might consider raising the open space tax. At the same time, the committee is open to other alternatives that would augment West Amwell’s purchase power.
   "We’re also considering soliciting direct donations into the open space trust fund," Mr. Shute said. "The donations would be tax-deductible and dedicated exclusively to land preservation in the township."
   In 2000, the township began its quest to preserve land thanks to the foresight of past committees which set aside resources from previous budget surpluses.
   The community also assisted, showing support by passing two consecutive open space referendums in 2000 and 2001, the first, accepting a 2-cent per $100 valuation assessment and the second, increasing the tax to 4 cents per $100 valuation.
   The public’s acceptance of a tax opened the door for preservation to become a serious issue in West Amwell.
   Accepting the tax helped keep community costs low and paved the way to receive state Green Acres matching funds contributing to county farmland preservation and providing core funding for nonprofit open-space acquisitions.
   Recent preservation deals have been accomplished at a minimal cost to the community and average approximately $600 per acre.
   According to the committee, the figure reflects the consistent level of community cooperation as well as commitment to partnering on behalf of the state, county and nonprofit land conservation agencies involved.
   The single most obvious open space acquisition in West Amwell is the Alexauken Creek Wildlife Management Area, which consists of 425 acres, purchased by Green Acres and managed by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
   A cooperative effort is ongoing between the state, township and surrounding neighbors, all partnering to create a cohesive management plan for the area.
   Delaware and Raritan Greenway, Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance and Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation are all working with individual landowners and already have added roughly 900 acres in the northeast portion of the township.
   The township, running low on funding in its quest to preserve half of its 14,000 acres, recently requested patience from local residents still seeking preservation counseling.
   A community mailing launched in January outlines plans for 2004 and anticipates more money forthe preservation program.
   The letter highlighted the team’s upcoming agenda and requested local residents not lose patience while awaiting committee response.
   Next year, the county expects to conclude contract negotiations to preserve an additional 600 acres of farmland at West Amwell’s northern peak.
   The state also has contracted for public access to several hundred acres of property in the central Sourland Mountains owned by United Water Co. and anticipates adding several major farms on the municipality’s southern most borders by the end of 2004.
   Future plans include developing community trail and access maps to be displayed at the municipal building.
   Team members presently are mapping preserved land and expect the project to be complete early next year.
   To learn more about the program or to become a donor, preservationist, volunteer or participant, call municipal clerk Betty Jane Hunt at 397-2054.