By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
The Township Committee unanimously introduced an ordinance Jan. 22 to preserve 43 acres of land along Long Hill Road for a price of $886,000 from the Open Space Trust Fund.
Committeeman Bob Wagner said the township is preparing to purchase about 21 acres of land that border the Azimi property for a total of $570,000, while the development rights which will be shared between the township and the D & R Greenway Land Trust for the remainder of the about 22 acres, owned by Townsend and Mary Scudder, will cost a total of $316,000.
The purchase price, according to Mr. Wagner, will be offset by a $325,000 Somerset County Open Space Partnership grant that was recently approved.
In addition, Mr. Wagner said, if the township approves the ordinance after its public hearing Feb. 26, an application will be submitted for Green Acres funding at a total of $400,000.
”Green Acres has pre certified the purchase price and the funds are set aside for Hillsborough,” he said in a separate interview. “So once the ordinance is approved and the land title is transferred, the township can submit the application request.”
Mr. Wagner said this about 43-acre property is in close proximity to five other previously preserved properties, including the nearby Azimi and Gibson properties. In total, the area of preserved land will be about 100 acres, with the addition of 3,100 feet of a public access trail that runs around it.
According to Mr. Wagner, the Scudder family will still own their piece of land, but the development rights will be stripped.
”All this land is preserved from development forever,” he said. “This will protect the environment of the Sourland Mountain region.”
In the future, Mr. Wagner said, the township will look to develop an open space management plan for the entire 100 acres. Among other possibilities, the plan will add to the trail connection throughout the properties.
”This is a big win for the township,” Mr. Wagner said.
