From left, West Windsor Councilman George Borek, County Executive Brian Hughes and West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh plan to preserve 35 acres on Route 571 in West Windsor.
Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh have announced the preservation of 35 acres on Route 571 in West Windsor. The property, which has regional significance, is located along the Big Bear Brook greenway that is a part of the West Windsor Greenbelt. The West Windsor Planning Board adopted the Greenbelt Plan in 1977 and implementation of the Greenbelt has been a key element of Township land planning. The preservation of this property, which will link preserved lands east and west of the Big Bear Brook, is also consistent with the Open Space Preservation Element of the Mercer County Master Plan as a regional cooperative open space project and green corridor.
The property is being purchased from Princeton Research Lands Inc. at a cost of $2,240,000. This represents a bargain sale based on a Certified Fair Market Value of $2,800,000. The acquisition is being funded by the County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund. The County is eligible to receive 50 percent reimbursement from the NJ State Green Acres program through its Planning Incentive grant program. The Friends of West Windsor Open Space contributed to this acquisition by funding the property survey and environmental assessment. The property has been farmed and will continue to be farmed under a farm lease with Mercer County.
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