U.F. officials support ballot question No. 1

UPPER FREEHOLD — The township has gone on record in support of the Green Acres, Water Supply and Flood Protection, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009.

Voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to support the act, which appears as public question No. 1 on the general election ballot. The state legislature approved the question in June with strong bipartisan support, and in August, Gov. Jon Corzine authorized the statewide ballot question.

The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution endorsing the bond act at its Oct. 15 meeting.

According to Liz Kwasnik, chairwoman of the township's Open Space and Farmland Preservation Committee, the state's open space and farmland preservation efforts would essentially come to an end if voters do not approve the continued funding, as the remaining funds from the voter-approved 2007 ballot measure have been appropriated.

Public question No. 1 gives voters a chance to preserve working farms, open space, the quality of drinking water, the health of lakes and streams, native wildlife and other natural treasures, according to a report Kwasnik compiled on the issue.

"The cost of the $400 million bond will be $10 a household per year to ensure that the vital preservation efforts can continue," Kwasnik's report states. "At a time when land values are low, land conservation dollars will go further. It is a prudent investment for our future."

Approval of the act would authorize $400 million in funding for the Green Acres program, water supply and floodplain protection, and farmland and historic

preservation projects through the sale of state general obligation bonds. The Green Acres program acquires land that protects water supplies and preserves open space, including parks, fish and wildlife habitat, and flood prone or affected areas. The program also funds park improvements and facilities, according to the report.

Of the total sum authorized, $218 million would be used for Green Acres, $146 million would be used for farmland preservation purposes and $12 million would be used for historic preservation purposes. The remaining $24 million would go toward the Blue Acres program, which would help the state purchase properties that are prone to flood or storm damage for open space preservation purposes. All spending of the authorized bond proceeds would fall subject to full public disclosure.

Kwasnik reported that the bond issue is important to Upper Freehold because state funding has been the largest funding source in a lot of its farmland and open space acquisition and maintenance. She also noted that land conservation keeps some of the costs associated with development in check, including high and rising education, services and infrastructure costs.

"In many cases, buying and preserving a parcel of open space and/or preserving farmland will be less costly than providing schools, police and other services that would be needed if homes are built on the land," Kwasnik's report states.

Kwasnik's report concludes that every dollar invested through the bond measure would be worth $10 because land preservation produces more natural goods, reduces public costs for flood protection and water supply, and provides more places to fish, ride horses, cycle, swim, boat, hunt and hike.

"In densely populated New Jersey, we need to understand the urgency of open space preservation," Kwasnik reported. "Once developed, land cannot be returned to its natural state. In these times of financial instability, if for no other reason than to be fiscally responsible, open space and farmland preservation should be a strong consideration in this township."