Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Space Purchase topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council OKs $430,000 purchase of Georgian Boulevard property for detention basin and park; resident questions use of open-space funds
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 2025-33 to buy a Georgian Boulevard property (Lot 2/39) for stormwater detention and possible park uses; a resident raised objections that open-space funds should not be used for a benefit she said primarily helps a single neighborhood.
Jackson Township Council adopted Ordinance 2025-33 at its Sept. 25 meeting to acquire property identified as Lot 2/39 (39 Georgian Boulevard) for use as part of the township’s stormwater management and open-space program.
Council President Kyung told the meeting the engineer recommended acquisition to address longstanding drainage issues in the Robins Estates neighborhood and said the site could be developed as a detention basin with a park on top after design review. Clerk Martin opened a public hearing; resident Eleanor Hannam addressed the council, saying she opposed using open-space funds to resolve what she described as a problem benefiting a single neighborhood.
Hannam questioned the $430,000 purchase price and argued the township was using open-space money for an issue that "actually is not benefiting the public as a whole," adding, "I find it disgusting." Council members replied that the engineer recommended the acquisition to mitigate flooding that affects multiple properties and that open-space designation can provide a long-term public benefit where detention and park amenities are planned.
Council members moved and adopted the ordinance by voice vote. The clerk stated the ordinance is being processed under NJSA provisions cited at the hearing.
Next steps: the township engineer will prepare drainage plans for the property for council review and the township will coordinate grant and funding options as indicated in prior administration reports.
