Residents propose ballot question to save Pulda Farm
But township says owner not willing to sell, so residents have limited say
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Members of the community asked the Township Council members if they could create a binding ballot question for the November election to save the Pulda Farm as open space.

Resident Tom O'Neill said the referendum could ask for township open space money, or seek county funds, to preserve the 67-acre farm located on Old Georges Road.

"I'd like the township to be more proactive in getting more open space dollars," he said.

However, Township Attorney Ronald Gordon said that because of ongoing litigation between the contract purchaser of the Pulda Farm, Edgewood Properties and the citizens group North Brunswick Residents Against High Density Housing, which is challenging the zoning of the property, the matter cannot be discussed in public. Also, Gordon said that since the township does not own the property, and since the owner, William Pulda, is not a "willing seller," the township cannot discuss a price tag if they, in fact, could consider purchasing the property.

In addition, Councilman Ralph Andrews, who is the liaison to the Open Space Committee and who was involved in obtaining the Otken Farm property on Route 130 south for the Community Park purposes, said that years ago a referendum was put on the ballot to increase the open space tax, and then afterward the township applied for Green Acres funding from the state. There is currently about $500,000 in the municipal open space fund, according to Business Administrator Robert Lombard. Because of that, Andrews said there could potentially be another referendum question to increase the town's open space tax, but that that the township cannot create a ballot question to preserve land it does not own.

Yet O'Neill said this is a cause "greater than politics" and that the residents should be able to speak about whether or not they want additional open space. He said the township should try to avoid eminent domain, which is how it acquired the Otken Farm, and should instead work to save the Pulda property before an age-restricted community is built there.

"There is not much open space left in North Brunswick - there isn't any open space left in North Brunswick," he said.

However, Mayor Francis "Mac" Womack said that even if there was a "yes" vote for open space on the ballot, a dollar amount would have to be attached to the referendum, which would mean the other party would have to enter into negotiations with the township. The other party currently is not willing to sell the land to the township.

Although O'Neill said a petition is circulating to get signatures asking for a ballot question, Womack and Gordon both contended that while the litigation persists, there is little the township can do. Gordon said he will look into the legal aspect of the ballot question, however.

"It certainly sounds like something people would like to have on the ballot," said resident Mary Chyb.