Tinton Falls Closer to Largest Open Space Acquisition in Borough's History

The Tinton Falls Council took one of the final steps needed to make the largest open space acquisition in the borough's history.

The borough is purchasing about 75 acres of land in the southern portion of town that had been slated for the development of a 273-unit community with a clubhouse and a swimming pool.

"If this land is developed it would most certainly require the construction of a new school at a cost of tens of millions of dollars to the taxpayers of Tinton Falls," Mayor Michael Skudera said.

The borough is using general appropriations, green acres funds and its open space trust fund to purchase site, which is located on Wardell Road between Mount Run and Fox Chase Drive.

"A portion of the financing will come through general appropriations in order to resolve a Green Acres diversion that took place more than a decade ago. The resolution of the Green Acres diversion will also help replenish the borough’s Open Space Trust Fund by freeing up grants held in abeyance (pending its resolution) as well as resolve long-standing issues with certain private landowners in the borough," Mayor Skudera has said.

During Tuesday night's council meeting, a required public "scoping hearing" was held and the next step is to send all the final paperwork to the state, which would have to approve the purchase of the site.

"When they approve it, we will have another public hearing on the matter," Mayor Skudera said.

The land had been approved for a non-age restricted development in 2006 by the Tinton Falls Planning Board and would have included 273 residential units, including 162 town-homes and 111 condominium units, with a total of 24 buildings,  a clubhouse and an outdoor swimming pool.