Published in the Ocean County Observer
By KRISTEN PASCULLI
Staff Writer
TOMS RIVER -- The chief purpose of a public hearing last night was to move the acquisition plan ahead for the Ciba-Geigy site.
John Reuther, chairman of the Open Space Committee, said his committee brought the matter to the township last night with the intention of submitting it next to the Green Acres program, which would make Dover eligible for state funding to acquire desired lands -- one being the Ciba-Geigy property.
Since Dover collects an open space tax and has an Open Space and Recreation Plan, it would be eligible for 50 percent state funding for land acquisition, should the plan be submitted.
Deputy Mayor J. Mark Mutter drafted a resolution stating the town's intention to "initiate discussion" with the state, Ciba-Geigy, and other governmental agencies regarding land acquisition.
Committeeman John F. Russo Jr. said he would like to talk to the state Department of Environmental Protection before making a decision on the plan, and felt the resolution committed the township to buy the property.
He also noted that the land is currently zoned for industrial use. He claimed it would become more desirable -- and worth more -- should it be rezoned.
The Trust for Public Lands and the state have already entered into discussions regarding the purchase of the Ciba site, as should the township, Reuther said.
However, Mayor Raymond P. Fox said he's still not sure whether to believe the federal Environmental Protection Agency's claim that approximately 1,050 acres of the 1,350-acre site is safe. He said he would like to see a report from another environmental agency concur with the EPA's findings about the parcel, which has been on the Superfund list for years.
"If we don't acquire it now, it'll be gone in a short amount of time," Gilmore said.
Gilmore said two important issues are to ascertain if other sites would be available for acquisition, and the best use of the property, should the township buy it.
Published on June 28, 2001
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