Open Space Trust Fund Program
Route 12 County Complex - Building #1
PO Box 2900
Flemington, NJ 08822-2900
908-806-5577
planning@co.hunterdon.nj.us

NOTICE (9/19/2012):

APPROVAL OF REPORT FOR THE SALE OF PROPERTY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF HUNTERDON AND THE TOWNSHIP OF HOLLAND - Block 6, Lots 49, 49.02 and 49.06 (Spring Mills - Little York), Holland Township, Hunterdon County, n/f "Hoffman Farm"

PUBLIC HEARING scheduled for March 05, 2013

Background and Overview

Hunterdon County voters have overwhelmingly approved three (3) County Questions (November 1999, 2004, and 2008) authorizing the Board of Chosen Freeholders to implement and continue an Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund pursuant to P.L. 1997, c. 24. (N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.1 et seq.) The proposition authorizes the County of Hunterdon to impose an annual levy for an amount or at a rate deemed appropriate for any or all of the following purposes, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders;

1. acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes;
2. development of lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes;
3. maintenance of land acquired for recreation and conservation purposes;
4. acquisition of farmland for farmland preservation purposes;
5. historic preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas, or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas, or objects for historic preservation purposes; or
6. payment of debt service or indebtedness issued or incurred by the County of Hunterdon for any of the purposes set forth in (a), (b), (d), or (e) above.

County Ballot Questions:

• 1st County Ballot Question 1999
• 2nd County Ballot Question 2004
• 3rd County Ballot Question 2008
  • Current Allocation of County Open Space Revenue (County Question 2008)
  • Open Space Revenue Charts, Diagrams and figures
• 2013 Municipal Grant Distribution

The Hunterdon Open Space Trust Fund Plan was prepared by the County Planning Board to provide the Freeholder Board with policy guidance on the selection of lands for preservation purposes including administrative and cost-effective ways to advance Hunterdon County ’s open space, farmland and historic preservation goals and objectives. These objectives also appear in the Hunterdon County Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan, adopted December 2008; the Hunterdon County Growth Management Plan, adopted December 2007; the Hunterdon County Park and Recreation Master Plan 2000 and the Sites of Historic Interest – an element of the Hunterdon County Master Plan (updates in progress). Moreover, the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders adopted the Open Space, Farmland Preservation and Historic Preservation Policy #:2008-02, on October 7, 2008: Revised October 5, 2010. This Policy (“Policy #:2008-02”) is intended to generally outline the Practices and Procedures of the Board of Chosen Freeholders when selecting, evaluating and acquiring interests in real property for Open Space, Farmland Preservation and Historic Preservation Purposes by the County of Hunterdon, and which is incorporated in the Procedures Manual,