Wednesday, July 2, 2003
Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson announced today that the county will acquire a 37-acre parcel in Hamilton Township as part of its open space preservation initiative within the Pinelands growth communities of Atlantic County.
The county worked in cooperation with Hamilton Township officials, Levinson noted, and provided the staff work necessary to acquire the property. The parcel is located at the intersection of Route 40 and Cologne Avenue, adjacent to both Oakcrest High School and the William Davies Middle School. The property will be turned over to the Township who will be responsible for its maintenance.
Township officials had recommended the property as an excellent location for a public park and feared that it could be lost to development. The parcel is presently zoned as "growth area intense" which would permit the construction of seven dwellings per acre.
"We are pleased to have been able to work with Hamilton Township and to acquire this land for the benefit of all our citizens. This was an excellent example of intergovernmental cooperation. It will help to relieve some of the growth related problems we are experiencing here in Atlantic County and help improve our quality of life."
The county paid $868,300 to acquire this property. Hamilton Township will contribute $60,000 towards the purchase. Levinson acknowledge the assistance of State Senator William Gormley who obtained a special funding allocation for Atlantic County from NJDEP for Pinelands growth communities.
The county acquired approximately 500 acres of open space last year in Galloway and Egg Harbor townships, the other two Atlantic County Pinelands growth communities.
For more information, please contact Howard J. Kyle, Chief of Staff, at 343-2223.