The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has placed its support for the acquisition of a development easement on a farm in Colts Neck on the record.
The freeholders took the action on Jan. 10 and signaled their willingness to partner with the state, the Monmouth Conservation Foundation and Colts Neck to acquire the easement and permanently preclude development at that location.
The properties at 393 Route 537, Colts Neck, and 397 Route 537, Colts Neck, comprise approximately 18.25 acres, according to a resolution. There are no homes or agricultural housing units on the property, which is owned by Barry and Maeve Druesne.
The estimated cost to acquire the development easement and preserve the property which the freeholders described as “a key piece in a corridor of preserved land that includes the Barney farm and Dorbrook Recreation Area” is $1,006,487.
According to the resolution, the estimated state share of the cost is $490,000; the estimated county share is $259,833; the estimated municipal share is $130,843; and the estimated nonprofit share (Monmouth Conservation Foundation) is $125,810.
The state and the nonprofit organization are proceeding with the acquisition of the development easement through the Grants to Nonprofits Program, according to the resolution.
In addition, funds granted to Monmouth County from the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Integration program may be available for the project, providing an opportunity to reduce the cost share percentages prior to closing, according to the resolution.
The freeholders said the land would be preserved for agricultural purposes. According to the resolution, “100 percent of the soils on the Druesne farm are mapped as prime farmland or having statewide importance.”
The freeholders said they support and are committed to fund the acquisition of the development easement on the Druesne property. In exchange for the $1 million payment, the land owners will surrender the right to develop the farm.
