by Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
Middlesex County officials say negotiations for the purchase of the 200-acre Van Dyke Farm in South Brunswick could begin within the next few months.
According to Ralph Albanir, Middlesex County parks director and chairman of the county’s open space advisory committee, the county attorney’s office is reviewing two separate appraisals of the property to formulate an offer based on the appraised value.
”We are hoping to start negotiations within the next six to eight weeks,” Mr. Albanir said.
He said that the county hopes to purchase the property using funds from its open space trust fund, with assistance from South Brunswick open space trust fund and the state’s Green Acres program.
”We are supportive of any attempt to preserve that farm,” Mayor Frank Gambatese said.
According to the mayor, South Brunswick has approximately $4.5 million in its open space fund.
”We are open to putting a significant amount of that toward this property, but I would hate to see all of it go,” Mayor Gambatese said. “We would be glad to contribute, but it would not be responsible to the taxpayers to put all of it towards one piece of property.”
The Van Dyke property stretches from Pigeon Swamp State Park to the N.J. Turnpike between Deans Rhode Hall Road and Davidsons Mill Road.
It contains a historic farmhouse and what may be a cemetery where slaves are buried, according to the William Klimowicz, founder of the Eastern Villages Association, which has urged the township to preserve the land.
The property was purchased from the Van Dyke family in 1954 by Pulda Brothers, and is currently owned by Walter Pulda. The land has been leased to a local farmer, but is currently contracted for purchase by Joe Morris, of The Morris Companies, in Rutherford.
Mr. Morris asked the Township Council in November 2004 to rezone the property from rural residential to industrial so he could build three warehouses on it. After the council rejected that proposal, Mr. Morris submitted a concept plan to build 76 houses on the site in 2006.
Mr. Morris did not return calls to his office.
According to South Brunswick Councilman Chris Kilmurray, township officials remain opposed to any development on the land.
”The Van Dyke Farm is a priority for our open space. I see no support for any rezoning on that property.”
