EAST WINDSOR: Township gains ground in land preservation cause

Preserved farmland consists of one-ninth of township

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
   EAST WINDSOR — A quarter of the township — 2,600 acres — is preserved farmland and open space.
   Efforts first began in the late 1990s, Mayor Janice Mironov said during an interview with the Herald last month.
   To date, more than 1,000 acres of farmland and 1,600 acres of open space properties have been preserved in East Windsor. This includes ecologically sensitive land near local waterways.
   Mayor Mironov said that the preservation is very valuable for the township as it creates an attractive and healthier environment and a balance to development.
   "It creates an important legacy for the town to have beautiful green areas,” she said, adding that some of that land can be used for recreational areas.
   No property taxes have been used to purchase the preserved lands, the mayor said.
   The township acquires its open space properties through various grant applications. The preservation of additional open space is derived from developer donations. Another part of East Windsor’s open space includes 300 acres of existing parkland.
   While the donation of some open space is a common requirement of developers by American municipalities, East Windsor has led an aggressive effort to preserve land through various grant programs.
   When seeking to acquire an open space parcel, the township applies for funds from the state’s Green Acres program.
   It uses a separate program to preserve farmland. The township acquires the development rights of farmland properties through Mercer County and state farmland preservation programs. The land is then required to remain as farmland.
   Environmentally sensitive ground protected in East Windsor includes land along the waterways of Millstone, Bear and Rocky brooks, Mayor Mironov said.
   She noted that the largest concentration of open space falls within the Rural Agricultural zoned district of the southeast quadrant of East Windsor. The district runs along Etra, Disbrow Hill, Cedarville, Old York, Airport and Conover roads.
   Other open space properties include the preservation of land in the Brooktree area of the township.
   Mayor Mironov noted that developers donate both cash and land.
   "The donations are significant because they expand our open space inventory in East Windsor,” she said. The township can also use the value of those donations to access state and county funds for additional open space.
   During that time period, the nonprofit organization East Windsor Green Space Inc. was created.
   It works with the township government in accessing funds to purchase properties for preservation.
   More than a decade ago, East Windsor approved a target map for possible land preservation within the municipality. Mayor Mironov said that a committee looked at vacant properties and evaluated their desirability for farmland preservation and open space acquisition.
   "Many of the significant planning studies that have been done underscore that preservation, as opposed to residential development, in fact is a cost benefit by not imposing the additional service cost and school cost and other infrastructure cost that goes with new housing,” she said.
   "We identified this early on in the administration as an important goal to preserve significant parts of the town as farmland and open space,” Mayor Mironov said. She began her 17th consecutive term as mayor on Jan. 1.
   In addition to cost savings, Mayor Mironov said that the preservation of large amounts of land and the maintenance of many trees on those properties help to mitigate flooding and other weather-related concerns.
   "There (are) very clear environmental benefits for the community,” Mayor Mironov said.
   East Windsor has an Open Space and Recreation Plan, which was created several years ago and is approved by Department of Environmental Protection.
   When choosing land for preservation, the township considers its cost, the willingness of the owner to work with the township, as well as additional circumstances at times, Mayor Mironov said.
   Recently, Mayor Mironov announced that East Windsor Township acquired two new open space properties including 40 acres on Etra Road and 7.55 acres on Airport Road.
   Pulte Homes donated the wooded parcel on Airport Road. It is located next to the new Windsor Cove subdivision at Endeavor Boulevard. The township described the 7.55 acres as partially impacted by wetlands in a press release.
   The 40-acre Etra Road parcel, situated between the New Jersey Turnpike and Cedarville Road, was on East Windsor’s open space target list. It is farmland property and located within the County Agricultural Development Area.
   It cost East Windsor $1.1 million to acquire the 40 acre Etra Road site, which was underwritten by Green Acres grants, Mercer County open space grants and New Jersey Turnpike Authority funds, provided to mitigate Turnpike open space property takings, according to the township.