x
  1. Home
  2.  News
  3.  Local News

Wantage changes open space law

| 25 Feb 2015 | 01:16
    Photo by Vera Olinski Allison Orsi asked the Wantage committee the difference between passive and active recreation on Thursday, Feb. 12.
    Photo by Vera Olinski Allison Orsi asked the Wantage committee the difference between passive and active recreation on Thursday, Feb. 12.
    Photo by Vera Olinski Barbara Woods encourages the Wantage Township Committee not to add active recreation to the open space ordinance.
    Photo by Vera Olinski Barbara Woods encourages the Wantage Township Committee not to add active recreation to the open space ordinance.

WANTAGE — The Wantage Township Committee changed the Open Space Trust Fund to include buying and acquiring property for "active and/or" passive recreation and conservation on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Previously the ordinance only allowed the township to use open space funds to acquire land for passive recreational and conservational purposes.

The ordinance
About six Wantage residents spoke against adding “active” use to the Open Space Trust Fund.

Barbara Woods spoke on “behalf of nature who has no voice in this matter.” She said paving over what should have been green space is not what the voters envisioned.

Bill Gettler said the original Wantage Committee Open Space Trust Fund ordinance violated the ballot referendum passed Nov. 7, 2006. The referendum asked the citizens about having a municipal open Space, recreation, farmland and historic trust fund, not just an “Open Space Trust Fund.” Also the trust fund tax was not to exceed 10 years and could only be extended by a non-binding voter referendum. The 10 years will be up in November 2016.

Allison Orsi asked for a definition of active vs. passive recreation.

Administrator James Doherty said active would include team sports such as soccer and football. Passive would include: bird watching, walking, bike paths, and horse paths.

Ann Smulewicz asked why the township was looking at changing the ordinance when the Open Space Committee hadn't even made a recommendation.

Doherty said the Open Space Committee's purpose is to identify potential properties and help with negotiations, and the township committee is responsible for ordinances. Also, there is an urgent need for a lacrosse Field, which was never envisioned. Plus, more room is needed for existing soccer and baseball programs.

Deputy Mayor Ronald Bassani said the most farmland preservation acres exist in Wantage, and he would like to see them remain untouched.

Committeeman Jon Morris said he did not want to eliminate passive activities, and there will still be the ability to continue in passive activities.

Mayor Bill Gaechter said that he was shocked at the amount of comments. The committee just wanted to keep the options open in the future. He does not want to over-develop Wantage, or prevent passive recreation parcels.