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Sought after green space may be saved
(by Maggie Fazeli Fard - February 27, 2008)
The Bergen County Freeholders are expected to cast their final votes next month on River Vale’s bid to purchase a swathe of green space near Poplar Road.
Called Tract I6A, the 5.2-acre parcel is one of three pieces of land that were slated for development by River Vale Developers. As part of a tentative agreement unanimously approved by the township council in September, River Vale Developers will sell I6A. In exchange, River Vale will drop litigation against the developer to save all three pieces. If the township is successful, I6A will be renamed Cherry Brook Greenway.
In October, township officials made a presentation to the county asking for help to purchase I6A, appealing for a $1.5 million Open Space grant. The township plans to fund the remainder of the $3.4 million cost with a $1.1 million Green Acres grant previously awarded by the state along with its own open space trust.
On Jan. 30, the Open Space board made a recommendation to the Freeholders to not only award the Open Space grant but also to tack on an additional $2 million to save a second tract. The other two tracts are more costly than I6A, costing a combined $11 to 13 million.
The Freeholders are scheduled to vote on March 12.
“I don’t know if they’re going to get both, either or anything,” said Mayor Joseph Blundo at the Feb. 25 council meeting. “We hope that one of the final pieces falls into place March 12.”
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