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Bank Of America Investment Mercer County Clerk Catherine DiCostanzo yesterday vowed to preserve 5,000 acres of open space during her first term in office if she is elected county executive next month.

And the need for preserving what still remains of our open spaces is growing more obvious. After all, natural lands protect fundamental building blocks of our life clean water, clean air and scenic beauty. Preserved farmland, parkland and open spaces clearly enhance our quality of life around the state.

Investment Opportunity The Republican candidate also unveiled her "Micro Park" plan that calls for the creation of several facilities of less than 100 acres with walking and biking trails, picnic areas and ball fields throughout the county.

If there's one thing N.J. voters respond to, it's open space. They love the concept so much that, despite already hefty tax burdens, they routinely voluntarily raise their taxes to buy more space. Tuesday was no exception, as a number of communities gave their OK on referendums to purchase and preserve open space. Keeping this property free from development certainly is one way to curb sprawl, but it's expensive. And, at some point, there will be no more space to either preserve or build on.

Banc Of America Investment "The idea behind the Micro Park system is to bring county park facilities closer to local residents," DiCostanzo said yesterday afternoon at a farm in Hopewell Township.

"The Puglia and Walder farms are in the part of the county we have targeted for preservation and where there are other farms already preserved, " said Freeholder William Haines. He said he is pleased the state has finally decided to permanently preserve more farms in the Pinelands because the county's dedicated farmland and open space tax cannot generate enough revenue to preserve them all. Susan Craft, county land use coordinator, acre Puglia Farm on Petticoat Bridge Road in Mansfield for $925, 980.

Banking Investment The proposal called for the county to work with local and state officials to identify properties for preservation.

The argument is not pretty, New Jersey is getting down to the messy business of creating a statewide growth plan that has some clout. Clout is not a big ingredient in our longstanding State Plan. The plan says growth should be focused in cities, older suburbs and existing and new rural centers while farms and open space should be preserved. A sound strategy, but there is little to enforce that philosophy on the ground.

Investment Solution Strategic "Saving 5,000 acres in just four years is a very big goal," she said. "But the alternative is to allow thousands more homes and shopping centers to be built. We cannot allow that to happen."

The township committee has approved plans to purchase another 16 acres that will be preserved as open space, bringing the total number of protected acres in the municipality to nearly 300. The latest parcel to be kept free from the threat of development is located off Crosswicks Road, acre parcel of open space the township acquired in the fall for $1.57 million, according to Mayor George Chidley.

Investment Banking Services DiCostanzo said she hopes her plan would not require an increase in taxes.

Bank Investment "I would take that question to the voters if need be," she said.

Alternative Investment DiCostanzo yesterday also criticized her Democratic opponent, Freeholder Brian Hughes. She cited comments Hughes made in The Times two years ago arguing taxpayers should be concerned that much of the county's open space program has gone toward land purchase in Hopewell, Princeton and Lawrence townships.

Online Investment Services "It's essentially giving these people a nice back yard when their back yards are pretty nice already," Hughes said in 2001. "If all the residents who voted for open space knew where their money was going, I'm sure they wouldn't want it."

Accompany Essential Investment DiCostanzo said Hughes' comments show he is not committed to preserving open space.

Investment Company "Now, as a candidate for county executive, he is trying to portray himself as a staunch supporter of open space preservation," DiCostanzo said. "I will leave it up to him to explain his change of heart."

Investment Management Solution Hughes said yesterday he has continued to support open space purchases during his tenure on the freeholder board and the county's open space committee.

Investment Management Services "Basically, I was talking about a flawed process that does not equitably share the open space throughout the county," Hughes said. "I've already been actively involved in saving thousands of acres of open space in Mercer County. We need to have an open space process that is open to all."

Guide Investment Stock By Karen Ayres
Trenton Times - 10/3/2003

Topic: Campaign 2002

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