The Mayor's Column

Open Space and Farmland Preservation

Each year, we get closer to our goal of keeping 50 percent of Monroe Township undeveloped by purchasing open space that is used for farmland, park lands and just green space.

To purchase land for preservation, the Township utilizes its Open Space Trust Fund, which was authorized by the voters and established through a 2.5-cent (per $100 of assessed valuation) Open Space Tax. Using Monroe, Middlesex County and N.J. Trust Funds, the Township has been able to preserve nearly 4,000 acres of open space including green undeveloped woodlands and our highly utilized parks. Monroe regularly works with Middlesex County and the State of New Jersey on open space purchases, sharing the costs and work that go into preservation.   

The Township added several new pieces to its open space inventory over the course of the year. The Township recently acquired a 14-acre parcel located between Rossmoor and the NJ Turnpike on Forsgate Drive that was initially slated for development. Keeping this area green not only serves as a natural buffer between Rossmoor and the Turnpike, it will also serve as a “green” entrance to travelers visiting the Township.

Also, 21-acres, 14 of which were purchased and seven that were acquired through cluster zoning, were preserved in the area of Old Forge Road. A portion of that land will be used to alleviate drainage issues in that area and the remainder will remain forest lands.

In addition, the NJ Turnpike recently purchased approximately 400 acres on Perrineville Road from the Millstone River to Longstreet Road that will be used as a wetlands mitigation site. The Turnpike will create and maintain wetlands in that area to compensate for wetlands that will be lost during the Turnpike widening project. In five years, the Turnpike will turn the land over to the Township or the County at no cost, giving us a large area of land in the southern section of town that will remain green forever.

The Town is currently working with Middlesex County and the state to preserve three farms: the 14-acre Balz Farm, which is adjacent to Jamesburg County Park, the 11.5-acre Sisters Farm on Schoolhouse Road and the 45-acre Miladinov Farm on Federal Road.

Partnering with the County, the Township is eyeing 1,600 acres for future preservation that include parkland, farms and green spaces. We will continue our preservation efforts until we reach our goal and 50-percent of the town is green forever.  

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