Open-space bonds approved in Montgomery

Two tracts targeted for $4 million spending plan

By: Kara Fitzpatrick
   MONTGOMERY — The Township Committee on Thursday unanimously approved bond ordinances totaling $4 million for the preservation of two open-space tracts — the Vartan and Zeloof properties.
   The Vartan property, a 139-acre parcel located north of Cherry Valley Road between Mountain View and Cherry Hill roads, is farmland and mature woodland, according to a statement released by the township. The township appropriated $2.55 million for Vartan property.
   According to township officials, 50 percent of the cost of acquiring the Vartan property will be reimbursed by the state Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres program.
   The 30-acre Zeloof property, located at Route 601 and Dutchtown-Harlingen Road, is adjacent to several other tracts and will assist in the formation of a larger, contiguous parcel of open space, the statement said.
   The committee made an appropriation of $1.45 million for the Zeloof property. The township will receive a county reimbursement of $500,000, as well as a Green Acres grant to offset the cost of acquiring the property.
   "These two tracts are important, very welcome additions to our open-space inventory," Deputy Mayor Karen Wintress said. "This land was zoned for residential development and was under a lot of pressure from developers.
   "By preserving tracts like these, we accomplish a number of goals: We steer development away from the areas where we don’t want it; we provide pathway and greenway linkages to nearby open space; we preserve valuable habitat; we protect our drinking water and protect against flooding," Ms. Wintress continued. "These are great investments."
   Two building lots will be permitted on the Vartan tract — one 6-acre residential lot will be subdivided near Mountain View Road and one house will be build on the remainder.
   According to the township statement, the Vartan property, in conjunction with other open-space parcels, will provide linkages to the large area of preserved farmland between Mountain View and Cherry Hill roads and also to the Nicolaysen, Opatut and Hillaire preserved open-space tracts to the east.
   "Both of these properties are important links in the township’s greenway Master Plan," said Clem Fiori, chair of the open space and pathways committees. "Indeed, the Vartan property has been a high priority since the adoption of the 1991 Open Space and Conservation Master Plan. I’m glad we got them in time."