Master plan now includes historic preservation goals

PLUMSTED - The township now has its first historic preservation element, as part of the municipality's master plan. The master plan is the document that guides the growth and development of the community. It is comprised of multiple elements.

According to Mayor Ron Dancer, the historic preservation plan was officially adopted by the Plumsted Planning/Land Use Board on Sept. 4. The historic preservation plan identifies and establishes the first complete inventory of 175 historic structures and sites in the township. This historic site inventory will provide the foundation to develop a short-term strategy with a long-term vision to preserve and enhance not only Plumsted's rural character, but the municipality's historic resources as well, Dancer said.

Providing Plumsted with its first historic preservation element of the master plan was made possible by obtaining from the state Department of Community Affairs a $20,000 Smart Future grant. Dancer said the historic preservation plan element will also help lay the foundation for the development of a cultural heritage tourism market in Plumsted to further promote the township's economy. Additionally, the township will now be better positioned to obtain more state and federal historic preservation grant funding, with Plumsted now having a historic preservation element in its master plan, as well as a voter approved dedicated trust fund for open space, recreation, farmland and historic preservation, the mayor said.

He said Plumsted is one of relatively few municipalities in New Jersey to offer a five-year property tax exemption to residential and commercial property owners for the value of improvements made to homes and businesses 20 years old or older. This property tax exemption program is an incentive to make improvements without being additionally taxed and help save older historic structures for future preservation, Dancer said.

The Township Committee thanked the members who were appointed to serve on Plumsted's first Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. The appointees include the New Egypt Historical Society Board of Trustees representatives George Compton and Carol Reed. Representatives from the Planning/Land Use Board are Miguel Garces and Bob Remm and citizen member Elser Heller.

In other news, the Township Committee recently established the Plumsted Senior Outreach Search (SOS) program and will host its next public outreach service at Jensen's Clubhouse on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information call (609) 758-4004.

In preparation of establishing a 4-H Club youth development program in Plumsted, municipal officials are seeking adult volunteers to help lead the 4-H Club and its activities. With the resources of the Ocean County 4-H program, orientation is provided and no previous experience is necessary. 4-H volunteers are supported by a professional staff, including a county 4-H agent who is a faculty member of Rutgers University. Anyone interested in being appointed to the Plumsted 4-H Club's youth development program as a founding and organizing member is asked to contact the mayor at (609) 758-2241, ext. 102.

The next regularly scheduled public meetings of the Township Committee will be Oct. 3 and Nov. 7 at 8 p.m.