Plan to allow recreation on township purchased land.
By: Jessica Beym
The Township Committee said Monday that its proposal to amend the definition of open space in order to allow active recreation as one of the uses of township-owned land wasn’t clear enough.
The original proposal, introduced on April 24, was rescinded and replaced with a new ordinance that would only allow parks to be planned on township-owned open space in areas zoned for residential light impact and residential low density. In addition, the Planning Board must approve the plans to have active recreation in these zones.
The new proposed ordinance will be considered after a public hearing on May 22.
Currently, all township-owned open space is restricted to agricultural purposes or passive recreation, which includes activities such as hiking, walking, photography or nature study.
With no plans for future park space in mind and with a growing need for playing fields as more organized teams continue to use township fields, the township decided it needed to lift the restriction by changing the definition of open space.
But township officials said Monday that members of the Planning Board thought the land use change didn’t specifically prevent open space that is preserved for agricultural purposes from being considered for future park space.
The township’s land-use code defines open space as "any parcel of land or water essentially unimproved and set aside, dedicated, designated or reserved for agricultural uses or passive recreation."
The township’s first proposal was to replace the words "passive recreation" with "conservation or recreation," and to add that township-owned open space could be used in any way the state Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program allows, which includes passive and active recreation.
The new ordinance proposes that the current definition of open space remain as is, but adds that township-owned open space in the residential light impact and residential low-density zones could be used in any way Green Acres Program allows. It also adds that the consideration of active recreation space is subject to the Planning Board’s approval.
The areas of the township that are zoned for light impact or low density are land known as the Updike property between Old Trenton and Cranbury Neck roads, the portions of the West property behind the Cranbury School and land bordering both sides of Old Cranbury Road. In addition, land east of Route 130 and south of Dey Road is also zoned as light impact, but the township does not own any land in this area.

