JACKSON – Municipals officials in Jackson have placed their stamp of approval on a plan to purchase a 4-acre parcel on Cassville Road and to preserve the tract as open space.
The 4-acre parcel to be purchased adjoins the historic Rova Farms property municipal officials previously purchased for preservation as open space. The properties are in the Cassville section of Jackson.
During a meeting on Oct. 27, council President Alexander Sauickie, Vice President Andrew Kern, Councilman Martin Flemming and Councilman Stephen Chisholm voted “yes” on a motion to adopt an ordinance authorizing a 4-acre expansion of the Rova Farms property. Councilman Ken Bressi was absent.
In March 2019, council members authorized the purchase of 34 acres at 120 Cassville Road that was previously connected to Rova Farms and dates back to the early 20th century when a first wave of Russian immigrants settled in Jackson.
The 4-acre parcel on Cassville Road that will now be purchased contains a single-family home. The sellers are Sergey and Natalia Titovich, who agreed to accept $575,000 for the property, according to a resolution.
During public comment, a resident asked why officials would not sell some of the open land that has been purchased by the township.
Sauickie said officials are focused on buying land and preserving it as open space.
Preserving land “is what residents have told us they want us to do. In this year alone we have purchased more land than probably the previous 10 years combined,” Sauickie said.
Nino Borrelli, a member of the Jackson Zoning Board of Adjustment who is one of three candidates running unopposed for a three-year term on the Township Council in the Nov. 3 election, said, “Land use issues are of great interest to me.
“I want to thank you (council members) for your leadership in continuing to pass ordinances like (this one), successfully buying up land to protect it from being built on and developed in Jackson and preserving it as open space.
“This is a win-win for all residents and of course preserving and protecting historic sites as well will be included in that. So please keep the purchases coming,” Borelli said.
Resident Joseph Sullivan said residents with whom he has spoken have expressed support for a Nov. 3 ballot question which seeks to raise additional tax revenue to be used for the purchase and preservation of land in Jackson.
“If there are historic homes to be bought, that would be great because we are losing our history. I am a history buff and I see many large historic structures being torn down during development. From what I heard, the public supports the (ballot question),” Sullivan told municipal officials.
