Sussex County to use funds to preserve farms

New Jersey Herald

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 Mail to a friend Printer Friendly Version

By BILL WICHERT

bwichert@njherald.com

Less than two months before New Jersey voters consider approving $200 million in preservation dollars, Sussex County is not waiting on state funding to save more than two dozen local farms.

As the state's funding source for farmland preservation awaits renewal, the county is moving forward with plans to preserve 29 local farms for a total of 1,366 acres in nine towns by solely using county funds from farmland preservation and open space taxes. In addition to the 29 farms, the county could soon add 2,462 acres by closing on 32 farms through various preservation programs.

The county has already preserved 86 farms for 10,802 acres, but the new purchases could mean an additional 61 farms for 3,828 acres.

The cost of preserving the 29 farms depends on the appraisals done over the next few months, said Donna Traylor, the county's farmland preservation director. The closings should take place next year and the state might provide partial reimbursement at a later date, Traylor said. Of its own pool of money, the county's two dedicated taxes are expected to generate $6.9 million this year for farmland and open space preservation, County Treasurer Bernard Re said.

"We are continuing on without state funding. We don't want to lose the momentum," Traylor said. "We know farmland preservation is extremely important."

County preservation funds are now expected to go towards some of the farms that did not make the cut when the state announced its most recent round of funding a few months ago. Of the county's 14 eligible applicants in the state's 2008 county grants program, only three farms ranked within the top 57 farms statewide.

Those farms received all of the $45 million appropriated for that program through the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund. The state and the county normally share the cost of preserving farms in that program, with the state contributing between 60 and 70 percent. By preserving the land, the state and county are purchasing the "development rights" and restricting the deed to agricultural use. Farmers can remain on their lands or sell them, but the properties must always be used as farms after they're preserved.

More than 50 years since his father bought the 20-acre parcel on Route 517 in Sparta, Bill Ashley might not have ranked high enough to qualify in the state's eyes, but he is still looking to preserve his family's hay farm. When real estate agents and developers have called him up, wrote him letters and even knocked on his door, Ashley has told them he's not interested.

"I lived here since 1955. I'm trying to continue to live here forever," Ashley said. "I have no interest in selling to a developer."

Ashley, who moved to the farm when he was 5 years old, pointed out that his farm is adjacent to an 82-acre farm that has already been preserved.

"The way Sparta's growing up, at least you'll be able to have 100 acres of farmland preservation," he said. "To me, you walk up in the fields, it's too beautiful for homes."

Since the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund will be out of money by next July, voters will be asked on Nov. 6 to approve a ballot question authorizing $200 million in bonds for the preservation of open space, farmland, historic sites and flood-prone properties. Of that amount, $73 million is designated for farmland preservation. The bond is expected to maintain preservation programs for one year between July 2008 and July 2009 until a permanent funding source is established.

Between advertisements and events throughout the state, more than 90 environmental and recreational organizations will conduct the Keep It Green campaign over the coming weeks, urging voters to support the ballot initiative.

"It's really an investment in the future," said Joanna Wolaver, conservation project coordinator for the New Jersey Audubon Society and coordinator of the Keep It Green campaign. "Without the passage of this, all preservation efforts in the state will grind to a halt."

While the funding issues are sorted out, the state also is in the process of changing the way the money is divided among the counties, said Hope Gruzlovic, spokeswoman for the State Agricultural Development Committee.

Whereas counties have traditionally competed with the rest of state annually over a single pool of money, counties in the new program will each receive a base grant of $2 million, Gruzlovic said. When that funding has been used, counties can compete with the rest of the state for additional funds and possibly receive up to $3 million extra, she said.

Like other counties already getting the process started at their end, Sussex is well-positioned to take advantage of the new program and make the best use of the available funds, Gruzlovic said.

"They want to get ahead of the curve and remove the threat of development," she said. "We think it's great when they take the lead."