Published in the Asbury Park Press
An Asbury Park Press editorial
Whichever acting governor gets to review the bill allocating $15 million in state Green Acres funds to buy 700 acres of the former Ciba-Geigy property in Dover Township in the next week should consider the implications of the law and refuse to sign it.
Preserving open space is almost always a good idea, but this would be inappropriate use of state taxpayers' money. This proposal is premature on several counts.
Green Acres money is designated to preserve property in danger of development. But there is no immediate threat of development in this case. Whether the present owner, Ciba Specialty Chemical Corp., or a successor, would be able to build houses on the tract is in doubt. Although these 700 acres are uncontaminated, they are just too close to 200 to 300 acres contaminated during Ciba's dye-manufacturing days.
The property hasn't even been appraised. So who's to know what is a fair sales price? Plus, the township hasn't even presented a conceptual look at how the land would be used.
Given all these unresolved issues, it is hard to justify allotting 25 percent of the entire Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to one project, especially one so undefined.
It is to the credit and clout of the bill sponsors, Sen. Andrew R. Ciesla and Assemblymen James W. Holzapfel and David W. Wolfe, all R-Ocean, that they have persuaded enough of their colleagues to pass the bill. It's just not in the best interest of the state at this time. Let that $15 million remain in the trust fund, rather than setting an ill-advised precedent.
Published in the Asbury Park Press 1/09/02
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