FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Joseph M. DiBella, Mayor

1-732-938-4500

May 14, 2006

Open Space Preservation Update

I am pleased to report that the Township has and continues to make significant progress related to the acquisition of open space. The residents of Howell have passed not one, but two “open space referendums” whereby a set amount of money is collected and used to buy open space and to preserve farmlands. The purchase of open space serves and farmland preservation serves many purposes. First, and most importantly, the land is preserved so that it cannot be residentially developed. Slowing the rate of residential growth is paramount in our efforts to contain sprawl and reign in taxes. Additionally preserving land helps maintain the natural beauty of our community; it lessens the strain on our infrastructure and natural resources and provides access to land for active and passive recreation for citizens of all ages.

In conjunction with the open space funds the Township has available, we have also been very successful in securing historic levels of State Aid and matching grants to help purchase land. In fact, Howell Township is one of only about 200 municipalities in NJ eligible for State Aid from a special program referred to as the NJ Performance Incentive Program. This special program, which is a part of the State’s Green Acres program, makes funds available to municipalities that qualify for the Incentive Program. Through this program, Howell is entitled to get back 50% of the local taxes we use to pay for open space acquisition.

Last year we received approval to get $2.8 million in “50% matching funds” from the State to help pay for three strategic land purchases. Never before has Howell received this much Grant funding, which has allowed us to preserve, in this case, 270 acres of land (a small part of the total land we have preserved in the last 3 years).  These three parcels are the Lake Louise property, the Bonim Tract and the Price property. Each has very significant value to the Township.

The Lake Louise parcel is important since that it is near Each Lake and helps complete the total preservation of available land in that area. The Price property is also important for similar reasons. In both cases, this land will forever be preserved and it will never have homes built on it.

The Bonim property is equally as important. This land will serve as the home to a new complex for boys and girls soccer and girl’s softball. Today, the young people of Howell have limited access to recreational amenities. With more than 7,000 school age children in Howell, we have an obligation to make the right investments for these kids. This new complex will go a long way in helping the youth of Howell. Plus, there will be walking trails and a dog park there as well so that the complex will cater to all township residents. Finally, the preservation of this land is noteworthy in that here too, it can never have more homes built on it that would only bring more congestion and sprawl.

The Township remains committed to preserving open space and farmland. Like anything else, such purchases do not come cheap. However, in the long run, the “return on our investment” will pay dividends. Through open space preservation fewer homes will be built, we will slow sprawl and we will preserve the natural beauty of Howell. All of this will translate, in the long run, to less taxation, which is on all of our minds.

If you have any questions or comments about our open space and farmland preservation plans or on any issue related to the Township, please call or email me at

MayorDiBella@twp.howell.nj.us. Thank you.

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