Bill Might Help Lennar

Homeowners

By Bob Vosseller

PLUMSTED – Mayor made between Lennar and the township.

Robert Bowen noted recent legislation that would provide a property tax break for seniors, thanking 12th District Assemblyman Alex Sauickie for introducing it.

More than 27 and a half acres on Miller Avenue and Bowman Road is

By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Members

of council noted increases in land preservation in the township during a recent Council meeting.

Council Vice President Nino Borrelli spoke about a resolution that was approved during that meeting concerning Jackson’s Rova Farms property which he said would become a “park and cultural center. This is 32-plus acres of land and history in our town that will be protected forever. Much thanks to those who serve on the Rova Farms committee.”

He noted two other resolutions on the agenda that concerned more than 35 acres of land for Ocean County to purchase and preserve in the township.

“I recommended and identified the one for over 27 and a half acres on Miller Avenue and Bowman Road.”

According to Ocean County, that 27.5-acre tract is close to the county’s Patriots Park and also to one of the county’s preserved farms under the Farmland Preservation Program, and over 2,000 acres of county, state, and township open space. The land is located within the watershed of the Toms River. Approximately a fourth of the property consists of freshwater wetlands. If developed,

By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – Board of Education members

and the school administration received some good news lately regarding receiving a five-year grant that will cover the cost of mental health issues.

At a recent Board meeting Superintendent Nicole Por - milli said, “during budget season there was a grant for mental health and we learned that our application was accepted and awarded.

The district is fortunate enough to have a mental health train - the parcel could accommodate four one-acre single family lots. However, preservation will keep the oak/pine forest that encompasses the property as open space.

During the most recent Township Committee meeting, the mayor cited “a section in the bill, section 2, property tax due and payable by the owner of a homestead based on assessment by a municipality …on land and improvements... so yes, folks of Lennar will be included.”

“There were benefits that were offered to taxpayers that were not given to the people of Lennar PILOT program and now we are going to have a fair slate,” Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo added.

Cuozzo noted that meetings with the Lennar development would continue. The most recent took place on July 10.

The Ocean County Board of Commissioners, at the recommendation of the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee, approved the acquisition of the property for $715,000

Bowen thanked Sauickie and the Assembly Speaker for including the addition for “providing the senior discount parity to our residents.”

During the July Committee meeting, Dominic Griffo of the Lennar development in the township said he was “cautiously optimistic to what he had heard concerning the New Jersey Stay legislation that involved granting some tax property relief to residents of his community who had been negatively impacted the PILOT plan that removed eligibility to seniors for certain state discount programs such as the Senior Freeze and ANCHOR along with (Open Space - See Page 2) (Lennar - See Page 2)

Residents of that development have come before the governing body to discuss not being eligible for certain senior discount programs offered by the state due to the agreement