BRICK – The Garden State Preservation Trust has approved the township’s Green Acres application for a matching grant in the amount of $1.2 million for the purchase of the Breton Woods property, which was owned by Visitation Roman Catholic Church and the Trenton Diocese.
The State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection sent a letter to Mayor Lisa Crate informing her of the grant award.
Crowds of residents came out to Planning Board meetings in opposition of a plan to build “The Havens at Metedeconk” – a 59-home development to be built by D.R. Horton of Texas – for the 31.6-acre wooded parcel, located east of Laurel Avenue.
“I’m very excited about that and happy that we’ve received this approval, and a shoutout to our boss team who worked very hard to get us to where we are today, and to [business administrator Joanne] Bergin and to all the people who have dedicated time to make sure that we can preserve that property,” the mayor said during a recent Township Council Meeting.
“I’m very happy to bring this announcement to everyone…who has worked so hard to preserve that property,” she added.
In January of this year, an $8.55 million deal was struck between the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee, the township and the contract purchaser D.R. Horton whereby Ocean County would pay $6.84 million and Brick Township would pay $1.71 million for the property.
With the Green Acres Grant, the township’s portion has been reduced to $510,000 for the land purchase. The parcel will remain in its natural state except for a six-acre portion of it behind Osbornville Elementary School where the township will construct a playground.
In other township news, a number of businesses and private condo associations have requested that the police department be authorized to enforce motor vehicle rules and regulations on their property.
The governing body introduced an ordinance during the July 11 Council meeting that adds a number of locations where the police could issue traffic violation summonses on private property at the owners’ request.
“Most statutes that pertain to motor vehicle laws and the motor vehicle commission are in Title 39,” said Councilman Derrick T. Ambrosino. “When a property owner located outside of a public right of way wants to enforce the provisions of Title 39, an application is made to the township to include the property in the township code.”
The sites have all been inspected by the Division of Engineering to ensure that traffic signs and markings are properly installed in accordance with the manual on uniform traffic controlled devices, Ambrosino said. While the police will have the ability to enforce motor vehicle regulations, the township will have no liability or obligation with respect to the site maintenance.
If the ordinance passes on its second reading during the next council meeting, the following private locations would be made a part of the regulations: Auto Repair Facility at 55 Brick Boulevard, Briar Mills Village Cedar Gardens Apartments, Crystal Point, Dunkin Donuts at 2026 Route 88, Farro’s Tees, GroundHog Demolition, Harbor Yacht Club, Kennedy Mall and White Castle, Lanes Mill Plaza, Merri-Makers, National Church Residences, Nobility Crest, Orthodox Christian Church of the Annunciation, Our Family Practice, Pioneer Fire Hose Co #1, Professional offices at 1696 Route 88, Royal Farms, Scallywags and Wawa-Panera on Route 70.
The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m.
