Hearing Tonight on Open Space Grant

Members of the public can speak tonight on the possible award of almost $1.9 million in open space funding that the township could use for the possible purchase of the former Russell Farms. 

The Bergen County Trust Fund Advisory Committee will hold a hearing at 7 p.m. in the freeholder meeting room, 1 Bergen Plaza, Hackensack, on a list of open space, recreation and historic preservation projects proposed by various municipalities. Action will not be taken.

However, Township Committee members and the administration are expected to be in attendance in support of the application, which would award Wyckoff $1,859,000 that would be used to facilitate the purchase of the dormant Russell Farms.

Robert Abbatomarco, the administrator of the Open Space Trust Fund, said the advisory committee has already made a recommendation to award Wyckoff the funds, but their decision does not bind the county. Rather, the Board of Freeholders eventually must vote on the project. Abbatomarco said that vote could possibly take place on April 21.

Assuming the freeholders look favorably on Wyckoff's bid, the township would have 18 months in which to apply that money, Abbatomarco said. However, a grant award doesn't bind Wyckoff. The township could simply decide not to pursue the purchase, or be unsuccessful in negotiation, without incurring penalty from the county, the administrator said.

Currently, Barrister Home Construction Inc., the developer of the Deep Brook home project, has development rights on the land, which sits just off the intersection of Russell and Sicomac avenues. 

Robert Milanese, Barrister's owner, said Monday there is "no agreement" although his firm has talked with the township about the future of the 5-acre parcel that formerly existed as an apple grove.

"We're proceeding with plans to develop," Milanese said. The Planning Board had previously approved plans to construct six new homes on the land, which also is due for environmental remediation.

However, Milanese said he is "keeping an open mind" and "intends to talk in good faith" should Wyckoff make a formal bid for the land.

The need for environmental remediation hampers efforts to either preserve the land as open space or develop the parcel into residential homes. Milanese said Barrister intends to do that work itself and is "waiting for a date on remediation" from the Department of Environmental Protection, although cleanup would have to be completed by summer.

Members of the Township Committee appeared before the advisory committee in the fall to pitch Wyckoff's application, at which time they detailed the ways the township could possibly use the land. Officials have talked about passive and active recreation, with ideas ranging from an amphitheater to walking paths to active recreation equipment.

However, decisions have not been made on what would be developed should Wyckoff eventually purchase the land.

Wyckoff's initial application sought more than $2 million from the trust fund. Abbatomarco said the possible award of $1.859 million factors in approximately $300,000 in cleanup costs that would need to be incurred elsewhere, as the trust fund will not finance a project in its entirety.