401 Grand Street - Paterson, New Jersey 07505-2023

James D. Rogers, Director
Passaic County Planning Board

BACKGROUND

As you are well aware the Board of Freeholders have taken two significant steps in conjunction with the County open space program. First, all slots on the Open Space Committee have now been filled and second, the mechanism for collecting monies for the Open Space Trust Fund is in place (1/10 of a cent per $100.00 of local property tax evaluation). We must now initiate the planning process which will put in place mechanisms for spending monies which will be raised by the new tax levy.

It is important to keep in mind that not only will there be County monies available for various open space initiatives but also State and quite likely Federal monies. Last November the New Jersey Legislature amended the State Constitution to provide for the dedication of $98 million per year for open space. The announced goal is to protect over 500,000 acres of farmland, 200,000 acres of recreational lands, 100,000 acres of watershed lands, and 200,000 acres of greenway corridors. Presently the Legislature is deciding how and where to spend the money.

The administration in Washington has recently announced proposals to provide up to $1 billion for a "land legacy initiative". As is the case with the State details as to how and where to use these monies is lacking. Various concepts have been mentioned such as grants for parks and green areas and protecting environmentally sensitive areas from urban development, protect historic places, etc.

It has also been announced that Congress has increased funding for the Federal Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program. A number of years ago the County was successful in obtaining funds under this program to undertake improvements to Goffle Brook and Weasel Brook Parks. In order to be eligible to try again for any new monies from this program we need to update a Recovery Action Plan which we prepared a number of years ago.

I suggest the Committee closely monitor activities at the State and Federal level and be prepared to tailor our efforts in such a manner as to ensure eligibility for grants from those sources.

The preparation of County open space plan takes on special significance for several reasons. State enabling legislation provides that selection of lands for acquisition for recreation and conservation purposes shall be in accordance with an open space and recreation plan prepared and adopted by the County. Also, as noted earlier in this Memorandum, access to monies which may be available from State and Federal sources could be enhanced if the County has plans in place.

As will be discussed in greater detail with the Committee, the State Green acres Program Office has prepared a document entitled Open Space and Recreation Plan Guidelines (OSRP). The guidelines have been established by the State as a prerequisite for local governments to participate in the Green Trust Planning Incentive funding category (P1). The P1 category awards 25% grant and 75% loan to a local government to acquire lands identified in its OSRP. A local government must also have established, and be collecting an open space tax.

JDR:hw

cc Freeholder Director Lois Cuccinello

     Freeholder Michael Mecca

     Ray Wright, Parks Dept.

     John Pogorelec, Asst. County Counsel