Land Preservation Is A Critical Public Necessity In New Jersey

The 2015 Annual Report of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation lists 64 sites it has helped to preserve as open space. William J. Wolf, a partner with the law firm of Bathgate Wegener & Wolf, P.C. represented the owners of 5 of those sites:

 

1. Langeveld Dutch Bulb Company Tract, Freehold Twp. – Completed 1990, 375 acres;
2. Hauser Farm, Aberdeen Twp. – Completed 2012, 22 acres;
3. Sacco Trust, Upper Freehold Twp. – Completed 2012, 55 acres;
4. Fariello, Aberdeen Twp. – Completed 2014, 33 acres; and
5. Fariello 2, Aberdeen/Marlboro Twps. – Completed 2015, 30 acres.

​The preservation of open space is a critical public necessity particularly in a densely populated state such as New Jersey where land for open space and recreation is a precious commodity. Because of the current regulatory climate it might not be feasible to develop land that, in the past, would have been converted to homes and various types of commercial activities. Preserving land for recreation and open space constitutes an enterprise that melds those seemingly disparate objectives. Open space preservation and conservation permits the public to benefit by preserving land while simultaneously allowing property owners to monetize their land, and, sometimes, to enjoy a variety of tax benefits and advantages.

Assisting a client who wishes to participate in a land preservation or open space project entails unique skills and experience. Such a project requires a lawyer to have a background in environmental law, regulatory permitting, land development, land valuation and taxation. The land preservation attorneys of BWW have the multi-faceted background and the experience to assist clients who want to participate in a land preservation or open space project.

For many years the land preservation attorneys of BWW have assisted clients in dealing with numerous governmental entities and private organizations to preserve thousands of acres of land as open space. Those preservation projects have included the State of New Jersey, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Monmouth County, Ocean County, New York-New Jersey Baykeeper, Monmouth Conservation Foundation and The Trust for Public Land. Through the efforts of the land preservation attorneys of BWW thousands of acres of land have been preserved as open space or are undergoing consideration for preservation.

Some land preservation, conservation and open space projects involved acquisition by public entities or private foundations. Other matters included easements or revised zoning to permit clustered development balanced by preserved acreage and farmland preservation. As a result of these endeavors, BWW land preservation attorneys have generated millions of dollars for our clients while simultaneously preserving thousands of acres of land as open space.

The land preservation attorneys at BWW have also had involvement with evaluating the potential of linking land preservation, open space and farming with group homes for autistic residents. This unique concept melds the desire to preserve farmland with the dignity associated with independent living.

BWW land preservation attorneys have been representing clients in land preservation, conservation and open space matters throughout the State of New Jersey including clients with land in Monmouth County, Ocean County and elsewhere.

Additional information regarding Mr. Wolf’s representation of clients in land preservation transactions and information regarding the background of the Bathgate Wegener & Wolf land preservation attorneys who have represented clients throughout New Jersey including Ocean County, Monmouth County and Sussex County is available here. 

Mr. Wolf is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, he has been designated as a Super Lawyer and AV Preeminent® for many years and he was selected to be listed in the Best Attorneys of America. Mr. Wolf has been certified, by the American Institute of Appellate Practice, as an appellate specialist.