Public To Get Its Say As Wyckoff Eyes Buying Russell Farms, Maple Lake

Editor's note: The following is a preview of Tuesday night's Wyckoff Township Committee meeting, first published the day before the meeting. Check back shortly for coverage of the meeting and any discussions on state Green Acres grants.

The Wyckoff Township Committee will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday evening to listen to residents' thoughts on the possible acquisition of Russell Farms and/or Maple Lake, funded in part by state Green Acres grants.

According to Green Acres requirements, if acquired, the land could be used for "passive" recreation,"active" recreation or conservation, which encompasses everything from hiking to horseback riding to boating to birdwatching. The recreation definitions could include nature preserves and playgrounds, or athletic fields and outdoor swimming pools.

Wyckoff has already been awarded more than $1.8 million in open space funds from the county to aid in negotiations to partially or fully acquire Russell Farms, a 5-acre plot off Sicomac Road that had once been slated for development.

In addition to the open space funds, the town also has approximately $900,000 in municipal funds through its open space tax, which could be applied toward the purchase.

Russell Farms, which had formerly been an apple orchard, is currently owned by CB Realty Investments Inc., though Barrister Farms Construction Co. became the conginent contract purchaser of the property in 2006. CB Investments Inc. and Milanese, developer of Barrister Farms, in the past had been seeking $2.7 million for the full purchase. But mitigating costs–including the razing of the structures and cleanup of decades worth of pesticide contamination–have stalled negotiations. The cost of pesticide cleanup could be as much as $1 million alone.

CB Investments Inc. and Milanese have said in the past they might develop the tract for a subdivision, though they've remained open to negotiating with the town throughout the process.

The property is currently zoned for residential development, but if the town were purchase the site with the aid of the state and county grants, development would not be an option. 

Maple Lake: Its history, its possible future

The other property up for possible Green Acres funds is Maple Lake, a 26-acre plot (5 of which is lake) of land near Godwin Avenue. The lake was developed in 1928 and had been the home of the Maple Lake Swim Club for decades before eventually being purchased by the Canterbury Corporation of Englewood, New Jersey in 1973.

Reportedly, the developer had attempted to sell the property to the town for under $200,000, but the town balked and Caterbury purchased the site. For many years it had been a spot for families to picnic, swim and horseback ride, but the site is now largely wetlands, and in recent years two animals on the state's endangered list were discovered on the property.

According to a 2006 appraisal, the property is valued at $7.4 million, though that number is likely to be disputed on both sides.

Still, with the bulk of municipal money likely going toward the possible acquisition of Russell Farms, it seems unlikely the town could levy the funds to purchase both Russell Farms and Maple Lake without the latter receiving a significant allocation of Green Acres grant money.

The Green Acres fund would match 50 percent toward the acquisition of a property, provided the town has an open space tax and meets other assorted criteria. The town has until July 31 to file for Green Acres grants.

The public hearing is at 8 p.m. in the Court House Room on Tuesday evening at Town Hall.