We are strong proponents of Open Space and Farmland Preservation because of the many benefits that it brings to our community.

• Open Space and Farmland Preservation protect our rural character. Raritan is a great place to live because it has everything, - nearby shopping, good schools and some of the rural heritage of Hunterdon County. With the ever growing demand for housing moving westward, and the Highlands restrictions on development to our north, we have to be proactive if we don’t want our slice of rural Hunterdon County to disappear.
• Open Space and Farmland Preservation help us fight sprawl. Sprawl leads to congested roadways and higher taxes to support roads, schools and services. Through strong leadership, neighboring townships like Readington, Clinton, East Amwell and Delaware have successfully used Open Space and Farmland Preservation as important tools for controlling sprawl. With strong leadership, Raritan can do the same.
• Open Space protects our groundwater. It allows natural cleansing of storm water runoff and it provides areas for groundwater recharge. Without these, the groundwater that provides many of the homes in our community with water for drinking, washing and recreation can become contaminated and worse, depleted.
• Open Space provides recreation for kids and adults. Our township recreation programs rely on land preserved through Open Space to provide playing fields. Parks and trails give all residents the opportunity to pursue a healthy lifestyle.
• Farmland Preservation allows residents to buy local. Buying locally grown food is supporting small business at its best!

But we probably don’t have to tell you this.   In every Open Space referendum put before voters, Raritan Township residents have overwhelmingly approved the measure.  That’s why it was so discouraging to learn in 2008 that the Raritan Township Committee had reduced Open Space preservation over the objections of residents, and without even consulting the Raritan Township Open Space Committee, which they appointed.  As a result, open space in our town has been left unprotected at a time when development pressures are high and land prices are low.

If elected, we would restore the town’s commitment to protecting and preserving Open Space.  We believe that Open Space and Farmland Preservation are not just ‘nice to have’, but are essential tools for helping to preserve our quality of life. 

With your support, we can get Raritan Township’s Open Space and Farmland Preservation programs back on track.   If you agree that it’s time to Rethink Raritan’s open space commitment, please tell your friends and vote for Marianne and Chan on November 3, 2009.