Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • December 14, 2011 Wyckoff Township purchases Russell Farms by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee has unanimously approved the purchase of the 5.1-acre Russell Farms tract, which will be preserved as a recreational site. The $3.1 million purchase approved last week will be made with money from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund, the township’s open space fund, and additional money from the capital improvement fund. Mike and Lori Brienza, environmental and historic preservation advocates, praised the Wyckoff Township Committee for carrying out the purchase at the Dec. 6 public meeting. The ordinance had been introduced at a previous meeting and was adopted last week. Jerry Goetting, a taxpayer advocate, questioned both the need for the purchase and how the township proposed to pay for maintenance. There was no other opposition, and the concept has generally enjoyed strong support from residents. The Russell Farms land was operated as a commercial orchard and farm stand until, some years ago, the owners sold it to a developer, Barrister Construction. The developer had obtained site plan approval for six large single-family houses, but when the real estate market contracted, he attempted to win approval for condominiums and was rebuffed by Wyckoff boards and officials. In the meantime, the land proved to be contaminated by Welcome support The Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce thanks all the sponsors and volunteers whose dedication and service made this year’s Santa Comes to Wyckoff event so successful. Stop & Shop of Wyckoff was the exclusive stocking sponsor for Santa Comes to Wyckoff, which was held Friday, Dec. 2. Stop & Shop Store Manager Frank Marcucilli is pictured presenting the $1,500 check for the exclusive stocking sponsorship to the Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce member Marie Kidd. pesticides from the days when it was operated as a farm. The developer and the township worked out an agreement to sell the land to Wyckoff when the developer had obtained certification that the pesticide contamination had been removed and the land would pass all environmental standards. Wyckoff officials made application to the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders and, on April 21. 2010, Wyckoff officials learned that Bergen County would provide a $1,859,000 Open Space Trust Fund Grant to assist the township in purchasing the land. The Wyckoff Township Committee, while waiting to obtain all certification that the land was free of pesticide contamination, introduced an ordinance to allow the voters to cast their ballots on whether to continue a halfcent per $100 of assessed value set-aside from municipal property taxes to provide for future land purchases for conservation and recreation purposes. Voters endorsed the continuance of the half-cent set-aside in the November election, and the township committee members took this as an approval of plans to buy Russell Farms and preserve the parcel. The $1,204,000 already set aside will be allocated to the purchase of the land. The Wyckoff Township Committee also approved transfer of $37,000 from the municipal capital improvement fund, bringing the total of money available to the necessary $3,100,000. Township residents may register their e-mail addresses at Wyckoff on the Web, www.wyckoff-nj.com, and receive timely information about municipal activities on their computer or Smart phone. Click on site registration on the home page and complete Residents may register for notifications the registration form. Those who register will receive updates concerning traffic detours, garbage and recycling information, tax reminders, emergency notices, and dates and times of township events.