Committee starts floodway property outreach and buyback review
Members want a mapped list of vacant and floodway-adjacent parcels, plus a formal letter to owners, as they weigh acquisitions for flood control and open space.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — committee advances floodway property outreach and, committee weighs visible open space projects, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The committee is shifting from general flood talk to a property-by-property review, with owner outreach and a buyback model now on the table.
The map is starting to matter.
The Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee agreed to review vacant and floodway-adjacent properties as possible acquisitions, map those parcels, and draft an official outreach letter to owners. Members discussed a buyback-style approach similar to Blue Acres, aimed at identifying land that could reduce flood risk if the Township eventually acquires it.
The discussion tied land use directly to stormwater strategy. Members said acquired parcels could serve future flood mitigation needs and remain in passive open space, rather than returning to more intensive development. That would give the Township another tool in places where flooding and land ownership overlap, especially if a property-by-property review shows opportunities near the floodway.
What comes next is more practical than theoretical. The committee plans to build the parcel list, put it on a map, and prepare a letter that can be sent to owners of properties it wants to study further. That does not mean a purchase is imminent. It means the Township is organizing the first steps of a longer process: identify the land, contact owners, and decide whether a buyback-style program could work in Millburn Township.
Committee weighs visible Open Space projects and spending pipeline
The committee wants projects residents can actually see.
Members spent part of the meeting talking about how to build a clearer pipeline for Open Space Trust Fund spending, with an emphasis on visible and meaningful projects instead of letting money sit unused. The discussion ranged from land acquisition to trail connections and the former Exxon site, with members weighing how to balance smaller near-term work against larger projects that may take longer to line up.
That approach would give the committee a longer list to sort through rather than waiting for one major proposal at a time. Members talked about keeping both kinds of work in view: projects that can move sooner and larger investments that may need more planning, approvals, or outside funding.
The practical goal is to turn a loose set of ideas into a spending pipeline. Members discussed gathering options from other Township bodies and shaping them into projects that can be prioritized, advanced, and funded over time.
Resident presses Exxon site and recreation access
During public comment, a resident urged action on the former Exxon station site and said it could become a natural garden that helps with flood mitigation. The same speaker raised winter access problems at the Bauer Community Center for Tai Chai and pointed to demand for volleyball and other park programming.
land/acquisition
Committee flags Short Hills station preservation work
Members identified ADA work at the westbound Short Hills train station platform and masonry repointing at the station building as possible projects. They said the Township owns the Short Hills station, and exterior work there would require Historic Preservation Commission review.
Committee floated ADA platform work and masonry repairs at the Township-owned Short Hills train station.
Gilbert Place area emerges as park candidate
The committee discussed the back-corner area near Gilbert Place as a possible neighborhood park and flood mitigation site. Members said the land is Township-owned but Green Acres encumbered, includes sewer infrastructure, and may also be tied to future stormwater pump improvements.
Discussion covered a Township-owned South Mountain site for a neighborhood park and related flood-mitigation constraints.
Open Space list grows with recreation ideas
Members reviewed possible Open Space-funded recreation projects, including walking loops, trail connections, bocce, sand volleyball, and expanded community center use. They said the next step is to turn those concepts into applications and then rank them with input from other Township boards and commissions.
Committee reviewed future Open Space projects including a Gero Park walking loop and trail connection.
- Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee (Millburn Township). A public speaker thanked the committee and raised concerns about the corner former Exxon station site, urging action and suggesting it could become a sustainable natural garden and help flood mitigation. The speaker also reported difficulty accessing the Bauer Center for winter Tai Chi and noted demand for volleyball and interest in park programming.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Millburn had 7 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEFinancing approach discussion: cash spending vs. bonding; expected annual revenue. Members discussed how to finance projects, contrasting smaller items paid in cash with larger projects that might require bonding. They stated that another tax year could add about $1,000,000 to the fund and that once the fund reaches seven figures, bonding tools such as a bond anticipation note could be considered, while ensuring the fund is not overexpended.
- GOVERNANCEPublic comment: senior accessibility concerns and suggestion of Gero Park as a more accessible senior center option. A public speaker emphasized senior accessibility challenges at the Bauer Center, citing parking and walking difficulties for older residents. The speaker suggested that Gero Park could potentially serve as a senior-oriented center due to accessibility, while Bauer could be more youth-oriented, and suggested exploring transportation options.
- GOVERNANCEOpen Space committee plans outreach and commission briefings. Members kept the September 28 meeting date and discussed adding an in-person Saturday outreach session to gather ideas and raise awareness of the Open Space program. They also discussed liaison follow-through and responding to the Environmental Commission's request for an explanation of the fund and project process.
- GOVERNANCEOld Short Hills Park use constraints and Greenwood Gardens considerations. Members discussed that Old Short Hills Park is generally viewed as a passive-use park and that more intensive uses could face pushback, including from Greenwood Gardens. They referenced prior ideas (e.g., a cricket pitch) and noted that while some uses could be community-building, they may not align with expectations for the park.
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