Jefferson Will Consider Giving Up Public Rights To Part Of Moose Drive

JEFFERSON, NJ — Jefferson officials will consider giving up the township’s public rights to part of Moose Drive when an ordinance comes up for a first reading at Wednesday’s 7 p.m. Township Council meeting at the Jefferson Township Municipal Building, 1033 Weldon Road.

According to the township’s council Oct. 7 agenda, Moose Drive is a “paper street” shown on Jefferson’s official tax map, meaning it exists on official plans but has not been developed as a public roadway.

The owners of 135 and 139 Longwood Lake Road requested that Jefferson vacate its public interest in the portion adjoining their properties. The ordinance says public necessity and the general welfare do not require that portion of Moose Drive to be maintained as a public road.

If ultimately adopted, public rights to that section would be extinguished, while rights held by public utilities, cable television companies and Jefferson Township utilities would be preserved.

The property owners would also have to reimburse Jefferson for legal, advertising, recording and other costs associated with the road vacation before the ordinance takes effect.

The meeting will also include a public comment period.

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