Comments by Pete Maimone: current
president of NBRAHDH
This website was originally created by members of
the North Brunswick Residents Against High Density Housing
(NBRAHDH), a non-profit organization formed by local residents
for the ultimate purpose of preserving this beautiful piece
of farmland. On December 15th, 2010 the township officially
purchased the Pulda Farm as open space. We are now encouraging
residents to send suggestions to us for how this land should
be ultimately used. It is, after all, funded by the taxes
that residents pay. A lot has transpired since NBRAHDH
began its mission in 2003, some of it upsetting a number
of people in NB with how things were handled. But,
now we are all on the same side. Tax
payers voted for open space and I think they should be
allowed to have a say
in how their money is spent. Please send your suggestions/comments
via email or use the contact us page form. Volunteers will
be needed for many projects. Your comments will be turned
over to the open space/envirmental committees.
Suggestions by residents: What is your idea?
1. Create a picnic area with
tables for residents to be able to access down near the
lake. Some day, when there is
available funding, it would be nice to have a dock for children
to fish off when money is available.
2. Have trails through the woods that
residents could wander at leisure. It need be no more developed
than those trails
by the river at Rutgers’ garden.
3. Farmetts for residents to have a plot of land to grow
anything from flowers to vegetables. Excess vegetables could
be grown/sold at one of those farm huts already on the property.
Summer Job for students?
4. Preserve the historic house. Volunteers are needed
5. Educational area for children.
NBRAHDH Background:
The fight began in late 2003/early 2004 when development
plans and zoning changes to facilitate the construction
of up to 325 homes on it were first talked about. Over
that period of time many internal changes went on within
the organizations’ leadership but one thing remained
constant. Our ultimate goal of seeing this pristine property
being preserved still remained. And yes the South Brunswick
victory of preserving the other Pulda Family farm helped
us greatly as did the economy. We often questioned the
current administration as to why is it that South Brunswick
always seemed successful in obtaining funding for open
space preservation while North Brunswick couldn’t.
Ultimately we won that argument. And yes this victory
still shows that persistence and the voice of people
still have power. Thank you to all who supported us in
this noble fight and ultimate victory
|
|
North
Brunswick finally saves Pulda Farm from development
Township
closed on the purchase Dec. 15
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer for the North Brunswick/South
Brunswick Sentinel
The Pulda Farm has officially been saved from any future development.
North Brunswick closed on the 70-acre lakefront property Dec.
15 after years of debate over whether to keep the land as open
space and after an application was approved in 2005 to build
325 age-restricted residential units along Route 130 and Old
Georges Road.
“The Pulda Farm is a wonderful addition to the township’s
open space,” Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack said. “This
complete farm, that gently slopes from Old Georges Road down
to Farrington Lake, will forever be preserved to remind us
of the farming heritage of our community, and to provide passive
recreation opportunities for generations of township residents
into the future. The Pulda Farm will be a vibrant part of life
in North Brunswick for many generations to come.”
The issue gained urgency because of recent legislation that
would allow the property, which was zoned for a planned adult
community to be built by Edgewood Properties, to be converted
into 325 market-rate, non-age-restricted units if the developer
wished to do so because of an overall sentiment in the Legislature
that developers needed economic stimulus.
Womack said the purchase was a necessary step to save the
farm because the township had lost its challenge to keep the
planned-adult-community zoning, despite testifying against
and protesting the legislative change in Trenton.
The town council voted on Oct. 4 in favor of an ordinance
that authorized funding to purchase the property. According
to the ordinance, the township is responsible for $5.5 million,
the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders committed
to $11 million, and the town is seeking state Green Acres reimbursement
for the remainder.
“While it has already been decided that much of the
Pulda Farm will remain in its current farm-like state,” Womack
said, “we are also exploring the possibility of setting
aside some plots for community farming, so North Brunswick
residents can grow their own vegetables and produce. We’ve
also reached out to the Rutgers University Department of Agriculture
to explore partnerships that might be available, using the
farm for educational and ‘agriculture camp’ purposes.
“We certainly will also be trying to find a way to provide
residents access to Farrington Lake through the farm for fishing,
kayaking, hiking and canoeing. And as early as this winter,
we may be able to designate certain times when North Brunswick’s
kids can take advantage of the farm’s sloping hills for
sledding,” Womack added.
North Brunswick mulls purchasing 70-acre Pulda farm property
By TOM BALDWIN • STAFF WRITER •www .mycentraljersey.com
September
27, 2010
NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Township
Council is on the verge of purchasing the Pulda farm, one
of the last agricultural
tracts in North Brunswick
The council is set next week to consider
spending $22 million for the 70-acre parcel on Farrington
Lake, Mayor Francis "Mac''
Womack said.
" It's unanimous,'' the mayor said of the council's willingness
to approve the purchase, noting the land could be used as a
learning center for schoolchildren.
" We have created an ordinance for the township's share through
a bond,'' Township Administrator Robert Lombard said.
The owner of record is the Pulda family, Womack said. As for
when the deal will be consummated, Womack said that would
be as long as it takes for the lawyers to do the paperwork.
The farm is one of the township's last undeveloped waterfront
properties and has been the object of much discussion about
possible development for many years. The land has been the
subject of a drawn-out drama over whether to save it as open
space or build housing on it.
" It is the right thing to do to obtain open space. It'll be
a wonderful asset for the township for generations to come,''
Womack said. He said the township plans to ask Rutgers University
if it would operate the farm after, as is expected, the council
approves the purchase during its 7 p.m. Oct. 4 meeting at the
municipal building at 710 Hermann Road.
Womack said half of the $22 million purchase price is expected
to be paid by Middlesex County through open space funds.
Township officials hope to get $5.5 million through state
Green Acres funding, with the township's share being the
remaining $5.5 million.
"
The county has acted to authorize that,'' Lombard said, of
the county's share. He added that requested state portion of
the funding "is part of our open space plan, so it should
be Green Acres funding.''
State Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry
Hajna said Friday, "We did get a request from North
Brunswick (for the funds) and it is under review.''
Lombard, noting the $22 million price for the property is
fair, said, "There were appraisals done for the property.''
Those who had argued against the development over the years
expressed relief when they heard that the farm is to endure.
" I am happy,'' said Larry Witlen, who lives near the farm and
is a former leader of the group North Brunswick Residents Against
High Density Housing.
"
I am elated. They finally listened to the people,'' said Peter
Maimone, another township resident and veteran advocate for
open space. "It is such a fine piece of land that is going
to be preserved.''
For more than a decade, going back to the mid-1990s, North
Brunswick mayors were unable to strike a deal to buy the
land, at 300 Old Georges Road, from the family of William
Pulda, who resisted numerous earlier attempts over the years
to sell.
Rather, the family eventually signed an option-to-purchase
agreement to sell the farm to Edgewood Properties of Piscataway,
which had planned to erect 320 age-restricted housing units.
The company later used a change in state law to amend its plans
to a proposal whereby Edgewood would erect general housing
with no age restrictions.
Hearing fearful forecasts that such a development would swamp
the schools and stress municipal services, the North Brunswick
Planning Board turned down the general-housing idea.
The township envisions using the property as a showcase for
youngsters interested in agriculture. "We have very
active after-school programs and summer camps,'' Womack said.
He said he had yet to open talks with Rutgers.
" It has been a long process,'' Lombard said of the efforts to
preserve the farm.
|
