Published in the Ocean County Observer
By KRISTEN PASCULLI
Staff Writer
TOMS RIVER -- A local open space subcommittee has announced its intentions to acquire the Ciba site as open space.
Committeeman J. Mark Mutter announced to the Township Committee last night he met with the subcommittee to discuss acquisition priorities. Mutter said the subcommittee has placed Ciba on the top of its priority list of land to acquire.
Mutter said all Superfund procedures and activities on the site would continue, but he hopes to have the rest of the land available for passive and active recreation.
Mutter said the subcommittee is also focusing on property surrounding Ocean County College, which includes waterways that run into the Barnegat Bay, and is cited as an environmentally sensitive area.
Mutter also said the subcommittee is preparing to submit its annual Open Space and Recreation Plan to the state Department of Environmental Protection by the end of the month. The committee is hoping to have the report by June 27, a deadline set by the town.
The plan will detail information regarding the subcommittee's priorities for land acquisition, Mutter said.
When the plan is submitted, members of the subcommittee will be coming before the committee to discuss land acquisition, and encourage the committee to pass an enabling resolution, which Mutter said would allow the committee to buy the Ciba and Ocean County College sites.
Mutter said other agencies must be enlisted to help make the acquisition possible, because it would be a financially overwhelming undertaking for the town.
The subcommittee formed after voters approved an Open Space Trust Fund in November. Mutter said there are 11 community members serving on the subcommittee, who are beginning to "roll up their sleeves and get down to work."
Published on June 7, 2001
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