JACKSON – A potential open space purchase was put on hold and there are different opinions as to how many homes could possibly be built there.
The property at 277 Grawtown Road was being sought for open space preservation by the town. At a meeting in June, the Township Council introduced an ordinance that would buy the land for $795,000. Officials said its purchase would permanently prevent the 3.22-acre property from becoming housing or schools.
Ordinances require two readings. The first one, at the June 23 meeting, introduced the purchase. The second reading adopts the ordinance. There has been no second reading on any agendas.
At a recent Township Council meeting, Councilman Chris Pollak brought up the proposed Grawtown Road land purchase even though it wasn’t on the agenda. “There are a couple things that surround this and it really shows how this government operates.”
He added that Mayor Jennifer Kuhn had posted on the township Facebook page that 12 homes could be built on this property, but he disagrees.
“It is a 3.2-acre lot zoned RG2 (Regional Growth 2 or Residential General 2, representing a medium-to-high density district used in New Jersey, frequently within Pinelands regional growth areas like Jackson or Egg Harbor townships and other municipalities to allow planned residential development) with a density allowance of three homes per acre.”
“That is a maximum of nine homes and usually, you aren’t getting all the homes on it. We need correct information and we need to receive information when voting to spend taxpayer money,” Pollak said.
He had cast abstained from voting when it was introduced. He explained this was because the Open Space Committee had not reviewed the purchase and that he needed further information.
He pulled up a board with a map of the property for the rest of the governing body and the public to see showing “wetlands cutting right through the center of it and a 300-foot buffer from the wetlands which makes it a lot more difficult to build on. We’re talking about spending about $800,000 on this. It has a home on it. We are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home just to knock it down.”
“I just don’t understand the reasoning, the thought process behind that. I’m all for open space and purchasing land which is why I had to make sure we had an open space committee meeting recently and we’re looking into lands we can purchase for open space,” Pollak added.
He went on to talk about what he said “pulled this off the agenda. With every land we are going to buy there is an appraisal and I asked for this appraisal. It was kind of difficult to get. I was told I need to do this in executive session.” This means he’d get it right before the meeting, so he wouldn’t have enough time to review it. “I believe that was intentional because they don’t want me to have information.”
Pollak stressed that appraisal figures should be made available in advance to all council members who have to cast a vote to approve such purchases. He said he was told “there was a legal issue with it and we had to pull it from the agenda.”
Resident Karen Brazinski and her husband Michael J. Brazinski, III own the Grawtown Road property. She spoke during the public comment period. “My family moved to this property in the 1960s. I’ve lived here almost my whole life. I grew up playing in the woods, walking these paths, making forts and even sledding on a small hill. My children and grandchildren have enjoyed this land as well,” she said. She called the road one of the most beautiful in Jackson.
The resident added, “sadly, it is approved for the development of over 900 homes. Our property is attached to 34 land locked acres that are owned by the township. We came across information about the open space program and thought our parcel would be perfect for this program and would also provide access to these 34 acres.”
“Eventually we were offered and agreed upon a selling price for our land. We were advised in writing that once approved by a vote by the councilmen then closure would be no later than July 15. For this reason, we are now in contract to purchase a home which is contingent on this transaction. We have seen much criticism on social media about how the open space money is being spent. We feel our property meets the definition of open space especially when you consider it gives access to 34 landlocked acres that the township already owns,” Brazinski said.
She said she and her husband received a call from the township in April expressing interest in the land for open space. The appraisal was paid for by the township and finalized in mid-late May. “My husband and I are just regular Jackson residents like everyone in this room and want to set the record straight that we have no ulterior motives and only have the desire to see our land preserved for the future.”
Resident James Silecchia noted that under township code there was a clear definition of the Open Space Committee. One point is monthly meetings, which are not being held. He also said that this land purchase does not fall under their responsibility.
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