BURLINGTON COUNTY CONDEMNS PROPERTY FOR WETLANDS USE

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bach2yoga

Guest
Oh, how I love government...

BURLINGTON COUNTY CONDEMNS PROPERTY FOR WETLANDS USE

Date: 040610
From: http://www.courierpostonline.com/

115 ACRES OF EVESHAM FARMLAND NEEDED TO COMPENSATE FOR ROAD PROJECT

By Carol Comegno, Courier-Post Staff, June 10, 2004

Mount Holly - Burlington County has taken 115 acres of farmland from
a private owner in Evesham to create wetlands as part of its largest
road project this year.

The county decided to condemn the property to compensate for the
wetlands it is using to reconstruct 2.6 miles of Evesboro-Medford
Road, county officials said.

On Wednesday the county board of freeholders awarded a $3.8 million
contract for reconstruction of the road to add shoulders, turn lanes,
drainage and curbing to better handle increased traffic from housing
development.

The county bought the farmland through condemnation because the owner
did not want to sell it for the $230,000 appraisal price the county
offered, county solicitor Evan Crook said.

That land already has 97 acres of wetlands and is not near Evesboro-
Medford Road but on the south side of Marlton Parkway west of
Tomlinson Mill Road.

Crook said the final purchase price is still being negotiated even
though the county now has title to the property that Michael Buchel
owned. County engineer Joseph Caruso said the county will use that
property to either create or enhance wetlands in this part of the
Rancocas watershed for this and future road projects.

He said the county was forced to buy all 115 acres because it is one
lot and was the only suitable land available in that watershed.

"This clears a major hurdle in reconstructing Evesboro-Medford Road
after more than 10 years of trying," he said.

He said the state mitigation plan calls for the county to spend an
additional $135,000 to create about three acres of wetlands. He said
the county is required to triple the number of acres of wetlands that
it is disturbing for the road work.

He said the wetlands work will include cleaning out a stream,
creating shallow ponds, regrading areas and planting pin and swamp
oaks as well as flag and square-stern monkey flowers.

Charles Nugent Jr., Buchel's lawyer, said his client did not want to
sell because the land is worth more than the county offer.
 
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bach2yoga

Guest
Wonder how much native vegetation will grow on a heavily fertilized farmland that is converted to wetland...?

Hmm...we need more roads, but in order to put in more roads we have to compromise and restore the ecosystem by developing a wetlands...hmmm...how bout your land? No? Well, guess what, I'm taking it anyway.
 

Gerania

Explorer
May 18, 2004
280
30
Marlton
If I were that owner I'd be out hunting down some Gum'ment folks.

Yeah, starting with the guy who appraised the property. $230,000!! So much for retiring fat and happy from the sale of his land.

Gillian
 
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