The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders is continuing its efforts to take land out of the development stream in Monmouth County.
During a recent meeting, the freeholders passed a resolution authorizing the acquisition of land on Texas Road in Marlboro for additions to Freneau Woods Park. The vacant property totals 18 acres and is known as the Geran property, according to the resolution.
The freeholders said an offer of $137,500 for the property has been accepted by the owners, contingent upon a satisfactory title and environmental review of the parcel. The money for the transaction will come from the county’s Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.
The purchase of the property for open space preservation, natural resources conservation and public park and recreation purposes was recommended to the freeholders by the Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners.
In a second resolution, the freeholders authorized the county’s commitment to and participation in a cost share arrangement for the purchase of a development easement on a 21-acre property on Casino Drive in Howell. The parcel is known as the Nevergreen Farm.
The purchase of the easement will preclude development on the property and preserve the land for agricultural purposes, according to the resolution.
The freeholders are being advised by the Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board. The county’s partners in the agreement are Howell, the Monmouth Conservation Foundation and the state.
The estimated total cost of the development easement is $273,000, to be divided in the following manner: The state’s share will be $116,550; Howell’s share will be $69,037; the county’s share will be $58,275; and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s share will be $29,138, according to the resolution.
