By: Eileen Oldfield – Staff Writer
The township got some extra land along Amwell Road, after purchasing 6 acres from the Transcontinental Gas Line Company for the Hillsborough Rescue Squad to use – and getting an extra acre donated by the company.
The land, which the township bought for $250,000 of open space trust fund money, is located behind the Rescue Squad’s East Mountain Road building, and is near other preserved land.
Half of the $250,000 cost will be covered by the Somerset County Freeholders, with the freeholders paying for its portion of the purchase with the County Open Space Fund.
The portion of land the Rescue Squad will receive is currently used for squad member parking, however, the squad has additional ideas for how to use the land.
"An easement dating back to the 1960s has allowed us to use part of this land for parking," Rescue Squad Chief David Gwin said. "The donated land includes the area we are already using, as well as giving us the ability to further expand our parking area. We plan to dedicate a portion of the donated land to an outdoor training area where we can practice cutting up cars with the Jaws of Life."
"Any way we can find to help the squad provide services at low or no cost is a win for our residents," Committeeman Bob Wagner said at the Township Committee’s Aug. 10 meeting.
The township also purchased 17 acres of farmland on Willow Road, known as the ANRI Farm, for $365,000, bringing the total acreage of preserved farmland around Willow Road to 655 acres.
"This is the 12th property to be preserved over the past 10 years in the area bordered by Homestead Road in the north, Township Line Road in the south, Willow Road in the east, and the CSX rail line in the west," Mayor Frank DelCore said. "This is a substantial record of preservation of farmland from development in a very key area that could have easily been targeted for major residential development."
The Somerset County Freeholders will provide half of the funds for the ANRI Farm purchase as well, with the money coming from the County Open Space Fund.
"Here again, the township is moving forward on the preservation of 17 more acres of farmland from development," Mr. Wagner said. "The preservation of the ANRI farm on Willow Road is a priority for the Open Space Advisory Committee. We have the support of the Somerset County freeholders to split the cost of development easements, again reducing the impact on Hillsborough’s Open Space Fund."
The Township Committee unanimously approved both purchases at its Aug. 10 meeting.

