Stanhope looks at open space plan

Stanhope — Some people, even residents of the borough, don’t believe Stanhope has any open space left. There are 450 acres of open space, not counting Stanhope’s share of Lake Musconetcong, Holly Szoke told the borough council at its June 12 meeting. Szoke, the vice chair of the borough environmental commission, presented a proposal for implementing an open space tax. The council withheld voting on instituting a referendum, but discussion centered around whether an open space plan should be in place before voters are asked to dedicate a half cent for $100 of assessed valuation toward the preservation and maintenance of open space. Szoke said having an open space plan in place before asking for the tax would be ideal because it would show voters the borough is serious about preserving open space and that there is open space to preserve. The open space is in small sections scattered around the borough, making it less noticeable than the open space in large, spread-out townships. “We are a walkable community,” Szoke said. “We have Lake Musconetcong, the river, several habitat areas.” Having an open space tax in place, however, gives the municipality a boost when applying for grants to preserve the land. Lorraine Bender, a member of the Environmental Commission, pointed out Stanhope has paid $362,000 toward the county’s open space trust fund and not used any money for its own open space. The tax, for an open space trust fund, doesn’t need to last forever, Szoke pointed out. “We can stop collecting if we no longer need it.” Szoke said creating a plan would cost about $12,000. Half of that money could be funded through a grant from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commission. She said she would bring exact figures to the June 19 council meeting. Councilman James Benson asked if the plan could be developed by volunteers. He said much of the information needed for an open space plan probably exists in the borough master plan, environmental resources inventory and in records of the commission and the Musconetcong Foundryman’s Historical Society. Mayor Diana Kuncken said perhaps the various groups can provide some of the information and reduce the total cost. The ERI was completed in 1983, Szoke noted, and some things may have changed. She said volunteers would certainly help with the plan, but a consultant would be needed to make sure it is acceptable to the state Green Acres office. In order to get state funding for open space, a Green Acres-approved plan is necessary. Szabo said having a plan and an open space trust fund would allow the borough access to funding from non-profits. Bender said the Canal Society of New Jersey and Conservation Resources have funding through Green Acres than can be used by municipalities. The council will continue discussion at the June 19 meeting.