Published in the Asbury Park Press
By JEAN MIKLE
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
TOMS RIVER -- Uncontaminated land at the former Ciba-Geigy Corp. site, along with vacant properties that if developed could impact the Barnegat Bay Estuary, should be made priorities for acquisition and preservation, according to recommendations made by Dover Township's Open Space Committee.
But Township Committee members appeared divided Wednesday night on the potential acquisition of the 1,000 acres of unpolluted land at the Ciba site, located off Route 37.
"They want us to conceptually consider acquiring this for conservation, as a potential passive and active recreation area for future generations," said Committeeman J. Mark Mutter, who attended the most recent meeting of the Open Space Committee.
Committeeman John F. Russo Jr. cautioned that purchasing that property would require a massive amount of money and that could make it impossible to purchase any other land for open space.
"One of my concerns is, whatever money we can get from the county, state and private groups is capped. It's not an unlimited amount," Russo said. "If we do the Ciba property, it would take all the money."
Last August, the then-all-Republican Township Committee had agreed that uncontaminated land at the Ciba site should be preserved as open space, and that the township should seek help from county, state, federal and private preservation groups to help purchase the property.
Committee members had warned that almost 6,000 homes could be built on the land if it was rezoned for residential use. The land is zoned for industrial use, and representatives of Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp., Ciba-Geigy's successor company, have indicated that their long-range plans are to develop the site.
Ciba officials have said they have been approached by developers interested in building homes, a golf course or light industry on the property.
Russo, a Democrat, and his running mate, Committeeman John M. Furey, criticized the GOP plan to purchase and preserve the Ciba property during last year's election campaign, saying the land could cost up to $150 million.
Russo said Wednesday that the township should concentrate on purchasing and preserving pieces of property that are in imminent danger of being developed. Because of the ongoing cleanup of the Ciba property, which was placed on the federal Superfund list in 1982, it is unlikely anything will be built there within the next few years, Russo said.
Properties that could impact the Barnegat Bay Estuary, including the JAMM Realty Inc. parcel at Hooper Avenue and College Drive, and the Weiner Homes site, at Bay Avenue and Church Road, were also mentioned by the Open Space Committee as land that should be purchased quickly, if possible.
Committee members agreed to hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. June 27 on an open space inventory being produced by a consultant working for the Open Space Committee. The inventory must be produced and submitted to the state so that Dover can be eligible for Green Acres funding for land preservation purposes.
Published on June 8, 2001
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