For Immediate Release – June 6, 2023
MIDDLETOWN, NJ – At the Monday, June 5th Township Committee Meeting, the Middletown Township Committee unanimously approved an ordinance that authorizes the acquisition of four properties to help preserve open space and improve both public recreational opportunities and economic growth. The ordinance was originally introduced at the Monday, May 15th meeting.
The Township Committee has been tirelessly working to protect Middletown’s open space while encouraging development where it belongs. At the April 3rd meeting, the Township Committee unanimously endorsed the Planning Board’s Master Plan Reexamination Report to help preserve undeveloped open space, prioritize recreational opportunities, and promote smart growth in redevelopment areas where existing infrastructure such as utilities, public transportation, and jobs exist.
Last night, the Township Committee voted to approve the acquisition of the following properties: 490 Red Hill Road, West Nut Swamp Road, 1114 Nut Swamp Road, and Dwight Road. In November 2020, residents voted to increase the tax that goes into the Township’s Open Space Trust Fund which helps make acquisitions like this possible.
To continue preserving the natural beauty of Middletown, the Township Committee will acquire open space through condemnation when and if necessary. This method was used in 2022 to acquire Fairview Fields, which had been owned by Fairview Cemetery, to prevent it from being developed and forever preserve this as recreational space for our youth.
“I’m incredibly proud that the entire Middletown Township Committee has once again moved to protect these undeveloped properties near Exit 114,” said Mayor Tony Perry. “It is unconscionable that a developer felt that this secluded location could support 500 new apartments where there are currently no utilities, unpaved roads, and environmentally sensitive areas.”
By allocating open space funds to preserve suitable areas and being strategic about what areas to develop, the Township aims to create a sustainable and balanced growth pattern that benefits all residents.
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