OCEAN COUNTY – County officials recently moved to purchase property in Berkeley and Manchester townships through the recommendation of the County National Land Trust Fund Advisory Committee.
Members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the purchase in Berkeley Township and two properties in Manchester Township for preservation.
Board of Commissioners Deputy Director Commissioner Gary Quinn provided an overview about both properties during a recent meeting of the Board.
The Berkeley one involved 4.99 acres located in the Mill Creek Headwaters Project Area. The money appropriated for the purchase was an amount not to exceed $244,800 plus up to $1,100 for property tax adjustments.
This purchase encompasses a number of properties on Lakeside Boulevard, Hillside Boulevard, Wheaton Avenue, Cedar Plaza, Route 9, Van Hise Lane, Hickory Lane, Manhattan Avenue, Station Road, Halsey Avenue, Harbor Inn Road, Grant Concourse, Navesink Avenue, Louis Avenue, Veeder Lane, Beach Avenue, Dorrance Drive, Sloop Creek Road, Nobles Way, and Butler Boulevard.
A digital map seen at a recent meeting of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners shows acres of land on Wrangle Brook Road and Manchester Boulevard as well as Wilbur Avenue and Renaissance Drive that will now be preserved. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The first property in Manchester Township concerned around 7.21 acres on Wilbur Avenue and Renaissance Drive for no more than $612,000 plus up to $900 for property tax adjustments. The second property is on Wrangle Brook Road and Manchester Boulevard. It is 41.22 acres in an amount not to go over $212,500 plus up to $1,200 for property tax adjustments.
Quinn said the property by Wilbur Avenue “is adjacent to township property and in proximity to the future county park in Manchester Township off of Ridgeway Road. The acquisition of this property would stop family homes from being developed on the site and the property owner has accepted a bid of $612,000 based on our appraisals and the township has accepted this acquisition.”
Noting the Wrangle Brook Road and Manchester Boulevard property, Quinn said, “it is immediately adjacent to over 2,000 acres of state-owned Whiting Wildlife Management area. The township has supported this acquisition.”
The county collects money through an open space tax on every property. This money goes into a fund for specifically this purpose. Once a piece of land is identified, its owners are contacted to see if they want to sell to the county. Then, the property is appraised. The governing body of the town has to sign off on the purchase, because this takes the land off the tax rolls.
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