There is hereby established an Open Space Advisory
Committee to review and recommend parcels of land and interests therein
for acquisition and preservation as open space within the Township
of Bridgewater. The word "Committee," when used by itself in this
chapter, refers to the Open Space Advisory Committee.
There is hereby established a reserve in the
general capital fund which shall be noted and designated as the "Open
Space Trust Fund." A separate bank account shall be established and
maintained therefor entitled "Bridgewater Township Open Space Trust
Account." As directed by the Council, funds from the Open Space Trust
Fund may be utilized to acquire all types of interests in real property,
including, not by way of limitation, fee simple acquisitions, easements
or any other lesser interests in real estate which will further the
goal of open space acquisition and preservation. The lands in which
such interests may be acquired shall include undeveloped land as well
as land containing improvements at the time of acquisition, provided
that the principal purpose of the acquisition is to preserve open
space. The Council shall have the option of paying for land acquisition
with improvements upon them either solely through the Open Space Trust
Fund or by apportioning the cost thereby charging the Open Space Trust
Fund for the land portion and the capital account for the improvement
portion. It is understood that such acquisition may occur via gift,
purchase or by eminent domain proceeding pursuant to N.J.S.A. 20:3-1
et seq.
The tax levy, pursuant to Ordinance No. 98-21,
would be effective with the annual budget in 1999 and would include
the $0.04 per $100 of assessed valuation. Such tax levy, as it is
collected, will be placed in the Open Space Trust Fund. All interest
which accrues will be held in the trust for the same purposes as expressed
in the ordinances.
[Amended 7-7-2008 by Ord. No. 08-16]
A. The monies in the Open Space Trust Fund shall be utilized
for the following purposes:
[Amended 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 08-31]
(1) Acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation
purposes;
(2) Up to 25% of Open Space Trust Fund monies, after the
payment of debt, may be utilized for the development of capital projects
on lands acquired for recreation purposes pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.7(d).
Capital improvements, defined for the purpose of this chapter as projects
with a minimum useful life of five years as determined by the Bridgewater
Township Council;
[Amended 8-6-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-13]
(3) Up to 25% of Open Space Trust Fund's remaining balance as of
the effective date of this subsection, after the payment of debt,
may be utilized for the acquisition of historic properties or structures
for historic preservation purposes and for capital improvements to
any such properties or structures, in furtherance of the preservation
of same pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.7(a)(1)(e). "Capital improvements"
are defined for the purpose of this chapter as projects with a minimum
useful life of five years as determined by the Bridgewater Township
Council.
[Added 8-6-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-13; amended 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 18-26]
B. Such monies shall be utilized for the development
of all categories of recreation and conservation of lands acquired
by the Township for parks, recreation areas, natural areas, greenways,
wildlife habitats and such other uses consistent with the concept
of open space.
This chapter will be in effect for a period
of 10 consecutive years, then the Council shall conduct a review and,
if it deems it appropriate, issue a report with recommendations and
conclusions concerning the continuation of the Open Space Trust Fund.