Farmland bills appoint 12.5 million to preserve 1,721 acres in Northwest

Sussex County - Two farmland preservation bills sponsored by Sussex County Republican N.J. Sen. Robert Littell, the senate Republican budget officer, have been signed into law. The two bills set aside $63.5 million for farmland preservation purposes, of which $12.5 million will be used to preserve 1,721 acres of farmland in northwestern New Jersey. “These two bills will ensure that New Jersey remains the Garden State,” Littell stated. “Farmers will remain on their farms free from the pressure to sell out to developers, and our rural regions will retain their small town charm and way of life.” The bills will appropriate the money from the “Garden State Preservation Trust” to purchase development easements on farmlands throughout the state. By preventing large scale developments requiring new schools and large infrastructure expenditures, municipalities are better able to keep local property taxes in check, Littell said. “I have been at the forefront of the Farmland preservation effort throughout my tenure in the Legislature,” Littell continued. “It is gratifying that many others in State government have now recognized the seriousness of this issue.” Additionally, Littell legislation that appropriates funding from the “Dam, lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources and Waslewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003” and provides funding to Lake Lackawanna in Byram Township and Lake Stockholm in Hardyston Township in the form of loans to complete dam repair work. The properties in Sussex County that will be preserved are named below along with their size and the cost of the easement. Andover Township Fritz 33 Acres $175,000 Pattison 100 Acres $425,000 Frankford Township Bove 69 Acres $325,000 Stoll 41 Acres $175,000 Green Township. Oliva Realty 16 Acres $125,000 Lafayette Township Hahn 19 Acres $200,000 Proulx 29 Acres $150,000 Kronyak 113 Acres $475,000 Montague Township Lewis 102 Acres $275,000 Sandyston Township Angle 21 Acres $175,000 Harper 1 86 Acres $650,000 Hull 33 Acres $225,000 Stillwater Township Dingertopadre 111 Acres $225,000 Hick 81 Acres $225,000 Lewis 52 Acres $225,000 Vcndetti 29 Acres $125,00 Wantage Township Decker 39 Acres $200,000 DenHeyer 22 Acres $150,000 Havens 200 Acres $475,000 Kopec 36 Acres $175,000