Blue Acres Buyout Kicks Off in Lawrence Township

Lawrence Township property owners are selling, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is buying. 

The DEP is kicking off the Blue Acres acquisition program for property owners in Bay Point. The Department hopes to use these properties, which are located along the Delaware Bay, as a wildlife habitat and a buffer zone for flooding. 

"This is a very difficult decision for property owners to make," said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin, "But it will move them out of harm's way and give them a chance to start their lives over in a much safer place."

Most of the properties acquired by Blue Acre were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. These range from properties in Sayreville, South River, and Woodbridge. 

44 properties in Bay point have been selected as potential buy-outs, including 33 with structures and 11 vacant lots. The Blue Acre program has bought out approximately 1000 homes in Sandy-affected communities, according to a press release. 

The acquisition program will begin tonight with a meeting at the Cedarville Fire Department for property owners only. The Department of Environmental Protection will assign a case worker to every property owner who chooses to sell.