Plumsted panel endorses 5 farms for preservation

PLUMSTED - The Township Committee is providing the required resolution of municipal endorsement for the preservation of five more farms into the Farmland Preservation Program. With the addition of five more farms to the preservation program, Plumsted would be at an all-time high of 37 farms permanently protected and preserved forever from future residential development, according to Mayor Ron Dancer.

The five newest farms to be endorsed for preservation are: the 29.3-acre Krowicki Farm, Route 539; the 18.6-acre Wenskoski Farm, Brindletown Road; the 14.8-acre Wall Farm, Route 539; the 9.65- acre Govan Farm, Lawrence Drive (off Route 537); and the 7.21-acre Hearne Farm, Long Swamp Road.

These five farms represent another 80 acres that will be added to the more than 3,000 acres of township farmland and woodlands permanently preserved from future residential development, the mayor said.

Dancer said that in Plumsted, agriculture is an integral part of the local economy. In addition to the traditional tax ratables of commercial and light industrial, Plumsted also has the agricultural tax ratables of farmers' markets and buildings. He said oftentimes the general public does not realize that farmers pay full taxes on their buildings and only receive a reduced assessment on the farmland itself.

Dancer said the land preservation program has prevented the construction of more than 2,000 homes and saved taxpayers millions of dollars in school taxes. The Township Committee thanked the Ocean County freeholders for their financial support of the preservation program.

Any landowner in Plumsted with 5 acres or more of open space, farmland or woodland may contact the mayor for a market value appraisal at no cost or obligation prior to making any decision to sell or develop for residential homes.

In other business, the Township Committee has awarded a bid submission from Cellco Partnership (Verizon Wireless) to construct two communication cell towers at Cellco expense on township property with minimum payments to Plumsted of $40,000 per year. Additionally, the township will receive 35 percent of gross revenues received each year from all other communication companies using the towers.

Dancer said Plumsted will also receive upgraded and enhanced emergency responder communication capabilities for the police, fire, first aid and emergency management departments.

The mayor said Committeeman Eric Sorchik, who is the governing body's liaison to emergency services, is to be commended for his efforts, from conceiving to completing this project to improve public safety at no taxpayer expense with the potential for Plumsted to receive in excess of $100,000 in revenues annually.

The next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Township Committee will be March 5 at 8 p.m.