Open space and Township land stewardship

Branchburg buys and manages land for open space, recreation and farmland preservation through a dedicated tax, voter direction and Township Committee action. The current round of activity starts with the November 2022 referendum and runs through the 2026 budget and the Committee’s 2026 meetings.

The referendum. On the 2022 ballot, voters were asked: “Should the Township of Branchburg expend public funds to acquire land within the Route 22/28 corridor for the purpose of preventing large commercial warehouse/distribution type facility development in favor of development more beneficial to the community and its residents?” Mayor James Schworn’s Sept. 2, 2022 letter described the question as non-binding — a yes vote would give the Township an option, not an obligation, to buy — and estimated the properties’ market value at $25 million and a potential tax increase at about $220 per household if all were acquired. The Somerset County Clerk’s final certified results, posted Nov. 23, 2022, show 2,894 yes (58.59%) to 2,045 no.

The purchases. The 2025 audit lists three “Acquisition of Property” ordinances — 2023-1455, 2023-1457 and 2024-1464 — financed with bond anticipation notes first issued Oct. 11, 2023 (the two 2023 ordinances) and Apr. 25, 2024 (2024-1464). At Dec. 31, 2025, $26,930,000 of those notes was outstanding: $7,600,000 under 2023-1457 and $19,330,000 under 2024-1464; the $5,000,000 note under 2023-1455 was retired in 2025. The audit’s summary of municipal debt deducts $19,330,000 of bonds and notes “to be Paid by Open Space Trust Fund” for 2025 ($5,700,000 for 2024 and 2023). The audit does not name the properties. At his Jan. 5, 2026 reorganization remarks, Mayor Schworn said “we purchased two properties on Route 28: we are in the process of converting the Advance property into open space,” and that he had asked the administration to evaluate keeping the Pizzo property longer; “There have been reports about developing that site with townhomes. That was never the goal, and I will not support any such development.”

The park. On Oct. 13, 2025, the Committee voted to begin moving a 32-acre parcel in the northern section of town, between Routes 22 and 28, into the Open Space system and to plan a public park, per the Township’s Oct. 14, 2025 release. The release quotes Mayor Thomas Young and Committeeman Dave Owens and says the Municipal Open Space and Recreation Committee will lead planning and seek public input, with workshop dates to be announced. On Nov. 10, 2025, Mayor Young asked the Administrator to arrange a Parks and Open Space Committee meeting to set objectives for 2026 and to meet with RVCC on priorities for the properties in the north end of town.

The committee. Ordinance 2026-1506, introduced Jan. 12 and adopted Jan. 26, 2026 (4–0), renamed the body the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Committee, kept its open-space duties (an open-space map and inventory with priorities, opinions on purchases) and added recreation duties and quarterly meetings. Mr. Beatrice reported in February and March 2026 that the reformed committee, which the minutes call ROPAC, had met, including with local sports clubs, who he said need turf fields and lights.

Land in and out. The Committee agreed Dec. 8, 2025 to sell Township land it no longer needs at 200 Harlan School Road (Block 17.13, Lot 12.02, next to the Silver Saddle pool), authorized an auction Jan. 12, 2026 (Res. 2026-29, 5–0) and a contract of sale June 22, 2026 (Res. 2026-121, 5–0). On Aug. 10, 2026, Mr. Bonin said a judge’s order allows the Dartco property to be offered to the Township, and the Mayor said NJDEP must first waive any liability for prior contamination. The same night Mr. Bonin said signs dedicating the Sempre and Advance properties as open space were being worded; on Sept. 28 he said signs had been ordered for the two new open-space parcels, on Station Road and South Branch Road, with a dedication ceremony planned and no date set.

The money. The 2026 budget, adopted Apr. 27, 2026, levies $2,671,898.30 for the Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund at a $0.0500 rate; the fund’s 2025 columns show $2,462,766.50 in taxes realized, $2,482,848.73 in cash realized, $37,431,124.40 collected to date and $27,763,006.29 expended to date, with 0.000 recreation and farmland acres preserved in 2025. The 2025 audit and the Annual Financial Statement show open-space trust balances on different accounting schedules ($2,866,725.14 on the audit’s reserve schedule, $5,055,200 in the AFS cash reconciliation) that the record does not reconcile. The July 27, 2026 bill list includes $99,515.70 from the open space fund for a Toro Groundmaster.

Stewardship. On Sept. 14, 2026, Wildlife Management Committee chairman Larry Fox presented the 2025–2026 deer-harvest report and recommended adding the Sempre property to the approved hunting areas and opening some leased farm sites that are not actively hunted; on motion of Mr. Young, seconded by Mr. Beatrice, the Committee moved to approve the 2026–2027 hunting season. The developer-funded tree program has planted about 1,000 trees along roads and in parks, Mr. Bonin said Aug. 10, 2026; its fifth round was set for planting in the second half of October 2026.

What residents can do. Read the park release and the Township’s agendas and minutes, and attend and speak at Township Committee meetings (second and fourth Mondays, 7 p.m., Municipal Building courtroom) and at Parks, Recreation and Open Space Committee meetings.