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Board debates how to approach 225-property open-space list and Green Acres oversight
Summary
Members warned against moving hundreds of parcels wholesale into Green Acres; the board agreed on due diligence and recommended a property-by-property review with multiple sign-offs and input from municipal departments.
The planning board discussed an Open Space and Recreation Inventory covering more than 225 properties under consideration for inclusion with Green Acres. One member urged caution, saying moving the entire list into Green Acres "in mass" would be imprudent and recommended case-by-case evaluation and multiple departmental sign-offs. The board agreed to appoint a subcommittee to review priority properties and report back.
A board member suggested limiting Green Acres nominations to individually requested parcels and requiring two signatures (for example, the mayor and an administrator) to prevent a future administration from unilaterally committing property. "It shouldn't just be one or two people who recommend the property," the chair said. Members emphasized that while Green Acres can increase funding for recreation and conservation, the borough must preserve flexibility and confirm private-property owners' rights before any transfer.
