This is the development of an overall plan for land preservation and acquisition in your municipality. It is your blueprint or “game plan” for land acquisition. It demonstrates that you have determined not only what land you want, but more importantly, how you will preserve and acquire it for your purpose. It requires knowledge of the funding available in New Jersey and what ground rules and conditions the County and State loan and grant programs have attached to those funds. It considers all your revenue sources and which funding is best suited for which acquisition. At the same time, it helps ensure that your Trust Funds (if any) and bonding capacity is used in an economically responsible manner.
The development of such a plan helps to ensure that your financial capabilities are there when desirable properties become available for acquisition. It enables you to compete with the real estate developers who also have their sights on the same property.
With a Financial and Strategic Plan, you give your municipality the best chance to obtain the land you need and want, when it is wanted.
Our fee for this task is an appropriate charge to Open Space Trust Funds.
