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Old Bridge voters to decide on Open Space Trust Fund referendum in November

OLD BRIDGE — In an effort to continue to preserve open space in the township, officials are hoping to revitalize Old Bridge’s Open Space Trust Fund.

On Aug. 13, Township Council members voted unanimously to authorize a Nov. 6 ballot question that will ask voters to grant the governing body the right to impose an annual tax levy of up to 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for open space purposes.

Funds raised through the levy would be used for the acquisition of land for conservation, public recreation and farmland preservation purposes, and for the payment of debt service or indebtedness.

If voters approve the ballot question and council members enact the open space tax and collect 3 cents per $100, the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 would pay $45 per year into the trust fund. The owner of a home assessed at $250,000 would pay $75 per year. The owner of a home assessed at $350,000 would pay $105 per year.

Township Attorney Mark Roselli said the way the resolution is drafted, it focuses on acquiring property, whether that is open space, parkland, recreational or historical locations, in order to make sure the money raised through the open space tax is not used for other purposes.

Councilwoman Debbie Walker said when she and council Vice President Anita Greenberg-Belli were appointed to the Open Space Committee in January, they realized that without an Open Space Trust Fund, the township would not be able to acquire open space and would have no ability to curtail development.

“The committee had not met in two years previously,” she said.

Walker and Greenberg-Belli have reached out to the community and have garnered more than 1,000 signatures in support of the Open Space Trust Fund referendum.

“We want Old Bridge to remain suburban like it is,” Walker said. “It’s up to the public to decide. I think the way things are happening, it’s very important to preserve open space because there is only so much of it.”

Greenberg-Belli said the township had an Open Space Trust Fund, which was approved through a referendum, however, the fund was not renewed. She said when the trust fund was in place, land such as the Cottrell Farm had been preserved.

“It’s very important to understand when you have an open space tax, it allows you so much,” she said. “When [Superstorm Sandy hit in 2012, working with the state’s Blue Acres buyout program for homes that were damaged], we were at the bottom of the list [for funds] because our Open Space Trust Fund had sunsetted.”

Greenberg-Belli said paying for the Open Space Trust Fund is paying for a quality of life and having Old Bridge remain a suburban area.

“You have to have foresight to think what you want this town to look like in 10 to 15 years,” she said.

Greenberg-Belli said continued development or overdevelopment would lead to a need for a larger police department, increases in water and sewer, and put a strain on volunteer fire companies, roads and schools.

Ward 5 Councilman Tony Paskitti said he supports the revitalization of the Open Space Trust Fund.

“When I headed up the Economic Development of Old Bridge Committee and we met with all the professionals in town, I came to the conclusion we cannot withstand the power of the courts,” he said. “Through the [affordable housing] initiative … the courts force the town to change zoning and builders become an intervener, select whatever they want, and when a piece of land is for sale in town, they can build against the will of the people, the will of the council and the will of the town.”

Paskitti said it is unfortunate the request for an Open Space Trust Fund will cost money through a tax levy, however, he said residents will have a choice in November.

Ward 6 Councilman John E. Murphy III said he agreed with his fellow council members. He said the proposed ballot question is essentially why he ran for a council seat, to give the public the right to vote on certain things.

Ward 1 Councilman Dave Merwin said he believed the Open Space Trust Fund was a great idea and said he supports the endeavor.

Council President Mary Sohor said she also supports the move to make certain Old Bridge remains as green as possible.

Roselli reported that two years ago, a statewide ballot question to preserve the Green Acres fund had passed.

“The state always put forth for a township to use Green Acres funds. A municipality would contribute funds as well. … (Having a municipal open space fund) moves you up higher on the list to attain state funds,” he said.

Walker added that with a municipal fund, money Old Bridge pays toward the Middlesex County open space tax would come back into the township rather than go toward other municipalities in the county.

Contact Kathy Chang at kchang@newspapermediagroup.com.

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