JACKSON – More than a decade ago, the township Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) acquired additional land intending to use it for future utility projects as the township’s population grew but now that property has been deemed to be “surplus” and public officials would like to see that land returned to the township for open space purposes.
Vice Council President Giuseppe Palmeri brought up the discussion about the proposed land sale by the MUA during a recent council meeting.
“The MUA is looking to sell over 5.6 acres. They’re putting it out to bid. In 2010, the MUA passed a resolution that stated the authority desires to obtain certain parcels of property for future development of its water and sewer infrastructure. Whereas Jackson is the owner of various parcels within the authority’s service area that would meet those needs,” he said.
Palmeri noted that 16 years after it bought the property the MUA passed a resolution stating “the authority has now accumulated surplus property.” The property was valued at $959,000 in 2010. “I believe if they don’t need that property, it should come back to Jackson Township, to us, so we can preserve it as open space.”
The vice council president sent an email requesting documentation confirming the original sale of the property to the MUA “including the amount paid and any terms or conditions associated with the transaction. Regardless of whether the township transferred the property to the MUA or sold it at assessed value in 2010, I believe the intent was for the property to serve a public purpose through the MUA.”
He added, “I do not believe that the intention was for the property to be sold 16 years later and potentially opened up for development. I would support asking the MUA to return the property.”
Palmeri said he believed “we should request that the property back to the township for the same amount the MUA paid in 2010. In my opinion that would be a fair and good faith resolution between the MUA and Jackson Township and would keep the property in public hands.”
“I think everyone is in agreement with what you just said,” Council President Mordechai Burnstein stated. He said he had spoken with members of council and the director of the MUA.
“The MUA bought it. It was $900,000 for multiple lots. This lot was actually about $24-$25,000 which about a 200 or even higher percent increase in assessed value. It went from $24,000 to nearly 2.2 or 2.3 million dollars,” Burnstein explained.
“We have already asked our attorney to draft a letter to the MUA requesting they return it for that value and obviously we will try our hardest and put that into our negotiations to try to ensure the land is not developed and see what other options exist for that land,” he said.
A week later Burnstein reported that he, Palmeri, and Business Administrator Charles Terefenko met with Jackson Township MUA Chairman Todd Porter, Executive Director Terrence Roman, and Assistant Executive Director James Diaz regarding the land.
Burnstein said “both parties believe that a mutually agreeable resolution can be reached in the near future, with the best interests of Jackson Township residents remaining the top priority.”
“I believe that the land should be conveyed back to the township in order to protect our environment,” Councilman Nino Borrelli said. “It’s in the Pinelands which is in a very sensitive area of our town. I think the Pinelands (Commission) should be reached out to about this issue. It should be rightfully conveyed back to the township.”
Councilman Kenneth Bressi said “if you look at the maps behind the MUA property you are going to see two parcels that the township owns” and others from residents. “I think you need to look at what’s next to it and what is planned to be built right next to it.”
Councilman Chris Pollak noted the discussion at the council meeting made for “a nice moment of unity within the council.” He thanked Palmeri for his looking into the matter and supported what he said in relation to what should happen with the MUA property surplus.
Additional updates are expected and according to Burnstein “will be provided as discussions progress.”
