By PETER ELACQUA
Staff Writer
MARLBORO – The Township Council has authorized Mayor Jonathan Hornik to negotiate a deal for the purchase of farmland with the goal of preserving the acreage and preventing residential development from occurring.
During a meeting on Oct. 20, council members Carol Mazzola, Jeff Cantor, Randi Marder, Scott Metzger and Michael Scalea voted to adopt an ordinance which grants Hornik the authorization to negotiate with representatives of the Stattel family for the purchase of 56 acres that Marlboro would use for farmland, open space and recreation purposes.
Four ordinances related to Marlboro’s potential acquisition of two properties at Route 79 and Route 520 were adopted by the council.
“This is one of the last large properties in Marlboro that can be bought,” Hornik said. “We have looked at township maps and have targeted our open space acquisitions and this is one of them. This is not just about preservation, this is about stopping 500 houses from being built in a part of town that we cannot properly sustain.”
The first ordinance adopted by the council authorizes Hornik to negotiate with the Stattel family for two parcels: a 47.5-acre tract on Route 79 with frontage on the westerly side of Route 520 and an 8.5-acre parcel on the easterly side of Route 520.
Municipal officials said there is no plan for the use of the two parcels at this time, should Marlboro acquire the tracts.
Years ago, the Stattel property was under consideration as a site for affordable housing. No housing construction ever occurred at the property.
The second ordinance appropriates a total of $8.5 million and authorizes the issuance of $8 million in bonds to fund open space preservation.
The third ordinance appropriates $1.65 million consisting of $825,000 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Grant and $825,000 from the Marlboro Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historical Preservation Trust Fund for open space preservation.
The fourth ordinance appropriates $1.52 million from municipal planning incentive grants from the State Agricultural Development Committee for the preservation of open space. Marlboro received a $514,485 grant in 2009, a $500,000 grant in 2011 and a second $500,000 grant in 2013, according to officials.