Almost $20 million in Green Acres funding will be appropriated to the DEP to provide grants to acquire and develop lands for recreation and conservation through legislation sponsored by Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder.
The bill, signed into law today by Governor Corzine, utilizes $19,919,700 in existing Green Acres money for preservation and conservation.
“This new law has the two-fold benefit of preserving open space and protecting property taxpayers,” said Assemblyman Rudder.
Money from “Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007″ and the “Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” will be appropriated from DEP, through grants, to assist qualifying tax-exempt nonprofit entities with the acquisition and development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes. All of the projects receiving funds have already been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust.
“These are beneficial projects that protect land from development, and the inevitable increase in property taxes that goes hand-in-hand with that development,” said Assemblywoman Addiego.
Projects are designated for funding in the 8th District municipalities of Mansfield, Mt. Laurel, Pemberton Borough, Pemberton Twp., Springfield and Tabernacle.
Projects in other Burlington County towns – Burlington Twp., Bass River, Bordentown City, Bordentown Twp., Chesterfield Township, North Hanover Twp., Washington Twp., Woodland Twp. – will also see a benefit.
Another project, the Rancocas Watershed acquisition by the Rancocas Conservancy, will have a positive impact on all Burlco municipalities.
“We’re using money already earmarked for conservation and putting it to work in tangible projects that will benefit the quality of life of residents without placing a financial burden on them,” said Senator Haines.
The nonprofit entities involved in the Burlington County projects include: Delaware & Raritan Greenway Land Trust, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Rancocas Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land.
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April 27, 2009
