MILLSTONE — An 11-lot subdivision approved in 2003 may become open space instead.
At the Dec. 1 Township Committee meeting, an ordinance was introduced authorizing the purchase of a 42.5-acre property on Route 526 known as Perl Acres North and owned by Perl Acres Realty Inc. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held Dec. 15.
According to the ordinance, the township would purchase approximately 14.7 acres for open space and recreation and approximately 28 acres as a development easement for farmland preservation. The Millstone Township Open Space and Farmland Preservation Council had given the property a high ranking among undeveloped parcels of land desirable for open space purposes.
The 14.7-acre site would cost $682,000 while the farmland development easement would cost $35,000 per acre. One acre is considered a nonseverable exception area in farmland preservation portion of the property for which the seller will not be compensated. Perl Acres Realty Inc. will receive a total of approximately $1,622,450.
The township may purchase the portion of the property for open space and recreation jointly with or assign its interests to the state Green Acres program. The acreage cited for farmland preservation may be purchased jointly with or have its interests assigned to the State Agricultural Development Committee or the Monmouth County Agricultural Development Board, according to the proposed ordinance.
In 2003, the Planning Board granted preliminary subdivision approval for a variance free application to split the farm property into 11 building lots. Nine of the lots would be located on a cul-de-sac with access to Route 526, while two of the lots would have direct access to Route 526. In 2007, a bridle path was approved for the property as well as the Perl Acres South subdivision across the street. That property measures approximately 158 acres and will have 43 residential lots. David Perlman, who said his father bought both properties in 1934, said at that time that the bridle path area in Perl Acres North was wetlands but high and passable, and agreed to the need for a bridge.