Plans to preserve 120 acres.
By: Bill Greenwood
MONROE Middlesex County is moving forward with plans to acquire about 120 acres in Monroe that will be used for open space.
The Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders voted Aug. 16 to authorize the Middlesex County Improvement Authority to acquire the land, said John Hoffman, who represents the county in open space projects. The MCIA is expected to approve resolutions authorizing the acquisition at its Sept. 10 meeting.
The land to be acquired is split into two parcels, one of which is about 100 acres and the other about 20 acres, Mr. Hoffman said. The larger parcel is at the intersection of Matchaponix and Spotswood-Englishtown roads and is worth about $8 million. The smaller parcel is on North State Home Road and is worth about $2.01 million.
Township Environmental Protection Manager John Riggs said Monroe asked the county to add the land to its open space preservation list because it would allow the township to complete a one-mile-long "green corridor" that would begin at the township’s border with Old Bridge. It would connect to the Daniel Ryan Field on North State Home Road as well as over 450 acres of already preserved farmland, he said.
The larger parcel is owned by Adventure Realty LLC, of Linden, Mr. Hoffman said. That company also owns part of the smaller parcel along with SUMO Prime Co., of Warren, and Jac and Jac Inc., of Kearny.
Mr. Riggs said there is an application before the Planning Board for about 65 new houses to be built on the larger parcel. However, a board hearing has not been scheduled and Mr. Riggs said the project has not been "actively pursued" lately because of a dip in the real estate market.
Mr. Riggs said an application for a residential development to be built on the smaller parcel was approved "decades ago." However, that development was never built because the application would have provided for septic rather than sewer service. He said the water table in the area is too high for septic.
The MCIA is expected to enter into negotiations with the developers for the land, Mr. Hoffman said. If negotiations prove unsuccessful, the MCIA could consider eminent domain.
Mr. Hoffman said Monroe will contribute $500,000 toward acquiring the larger parcel. The rest of the cost will be paid for by the county.

