Township of Harding
Morris County, New Jersey
Harding Township’s definition of open space: Property that is used “for the continuing preservation and stewardship of open space, natural resources, farmland and historic sites, as envisioned by the Township Master Plan.”
Annual open space tax: $.045 per $100. In 2006, this will generate nearly $880,000. Combined with the funding from other sources, each Harding open space tax dollar has a value of more than $10.
Acres of land preserved with open space funds:
- 2006: With a combination of funds from the county, state, and municipal open space funds, a 49-acre farmland easement on Sand Spring Road was preserved for $4.3 million.
- 2005: Harding Open Space Trust (HOST) worked with Morris County Open Space Preservation and the Harding Land Trust to buy a 3-acre street-front conservation and bridle trail easement valued at $1.8 million with $128,000 of HOST funds and $450,000 in Morris County funds.
Recent developments:
- Glen Alpin Property: A $200,000 grant from the Morris County Preservation Trust in combination with money from the Trust for Public Land, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Morris County Park Commission, Harding Township, and Harding Land Trust have been used to preserve the 9-acre Glen Alpin property and existing structure. Money has also been allotted to historical restoration of the building itself, which raises the question of whether or not open space money can be used for restoring, not just purchasing, historical properties. In Harding Township, up to 10% of each year’s open space taxes can be designated for historic preservation.
- The township also has been trying to purchase land along the area that will eventually be a greenway. In 1998, this region was put in the Master Plan in order to look at the greenway from an engineering perspective.
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Bernards Township
Bernardsville Borough
Chatham Township
Long Hill Township
Borough of Madison
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Mendham Township
Morris Township
Morristown
Morris County
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