[Adopted 6-14-2005 by Ord. No. 07-2005]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.7, there is hereby established
an Open Space Fund for the preservation, acquisition, development
and maintenance of land dedicated to open space use for recreation
and conservation purposes. The Open Space Fund shall be administered
by the City Council. The Open Space Fund may only be used for purposes
which benefit the public.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ACQUISITION
The act of acquiring land in fee simple or by a lesser interest,
whether by donation, purchase, condemnation, exchange, or devise.
CAPITAL MAINTENANCE
Monies appropriated from the Open Space Fund for major repairs
or replacement of items provided during the development of land used
for recreational and conservation purposes.
DEVELOPMENT
Any improvement to land acquired for recreation and conservation
purposes designed to expand and enhance its utilization for those
purposes.
OPEN SPACE
Land which is dedicated for public enjoyment which may be
vacant or developed for passive recreational and conservation purposes.
PRESERVATION
To maintain land unchanged from the natural state.
RECREATION AND CONSERVATION PURPOSES
The use of lands for parks, open space, natural areas, ecological
and biological study, forest, water reserves, wildlife preserves,
fishing, hunting, camping, boating, winter sports, or similar uses
for either public outdoor recreation or conservation of the natural
resources, or both, or the use of lands for public indoor recreation,
which includes, but is not limited to, swimming pools, basketball
courts, and ice-skating rinks open for public use.
RESIDENTS
Any person occupying or maintaining a place of residence
within the City.
The City Council is authorized by majority vote to select, acquire,
develop, and maintain specified lands, easements and/or development
rights to open space within the City in the manner it deems appropriate.
By ordinance, the City Council shall determine the amount of funds
to be allocated for each of the various purposes.
A plan should be prepared to identify facilities and sites to
be developed, redeveloped and improved as passive recreation or conservation.
The plan shall be periodically updated at the discretion of the City
Council.