Town Talk

Land saved and development halted

The Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Committee has approved another purchase of property in Plumsted which was recommended by the Township Committee in order to save the land from future housing developments. The county will purchase 60 acres off Sanders Lane for $275,00 and the land will remain in its natural state forever.

Two months age, to county purchased the first parcel of land (22 acres) recommended by the township committee which under imminent threat of residents development, located next to the Stone Hill and Plum Ridge Developments off Hopkins Road. The township committee has established a goal of preserving an estimated 400 acres in this area.

In addition to the Country Land Preservation purchases, the State of New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, has just purchased another large parcel of land, nearly 200 acres, at the intersection of Hawkins Road and Route and Route 529, next to the Hawkins Point Residential Development. The township committee recommended that the state purchase and preserve this land from residential development since it was located near the Colliers Mills Fish, Game and Wildlife Preserve.

At the last township meeting, the Committee endorsed another application into our farmland preservation program. To date, the township has preserved more than 2,000 acres of farmland from future residential development. The township has an additional 750 acres of farmland which has now received preliminary approval to have the state and county purchase the development rights.

Through the efforts of Township Committee members, Ken Francis, Bonnie Quesnel, Mike Roberts and Deputy Mayor Joe Pryzwara, Plumsted's Land Preservation Program, both farmland and natural lands, could total 3,000 acres this year saved from residential development forever.

In response to the Township Committee's advertisement for police officer hiring, the Police Department has received and is reviewing in excess of 100 resumes from individuals desiring to be employed by Plumsted Township.

The next meeting of the Township Committee is March 13, 2000