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Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders established the Somerset
County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust
Fund to further the preservation of farmland, open space and historic
resources in Somerset County. Potential purchases and grants are
discussed and recommended to the Freeholders by the appropriate boards
or commissions (e.g., County Park Commission, County Agriculture
Development Board, County Planning Board, and Cultural and Heritage
Commission) and are then discussed and voted on in public by the Board
of Chosen Freeholders.
Open Space Partnership
The County/Municipal Open Space Partnership Grant Program was
established in 1995 to assist municipalities in the acquisition of open
space, which would advance local preservation efforts. Since the
program’s inception, nearly $13 million dollars has been awarded through
the Partnership to help preserve 3,180 acres of open space. The grant
program is only open to municipal governments in Somerset County. County
Planning Board staff administers the program, which operates as a
competitive grant process on an annual basis. The County Planning Board,
Park Commission and Open Space Advisory Committee review applications
based on a number of criteria and recommend awards to the Board of
Chosen Freeholders.
North Branch Greenway – Preserved Open Space
Farmland Preservation
The Farmland Preservation Program was
created by the Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1983 in response to State
Enabling Legislation, PL1983, Chapters 32 & 33 that was passed the same
year. The Somerset County Agriculture Development Board leads the
preservation program, with staff assistance from the County Planning
Board. The program’s principal objective is to create critical masses of
preserved farmland to stabilize the loss of our agricultural land base.
Since the program’s inception, the County has preserved over 76 farms
totaling over 6,800 acres. The Agriculture Development Board serves as
advisor, monitor, mediator and approval body to farmers, county and
municipal government agencies and the general public in all matters
relating to agricultural development and retention.
Use the link below to download and save a copy of the new County
Planning Incentive Grant Easement Purchase Application For An Individual
Farm. Please complete the form electronically and email it to Tara
Kenyon at
kenyon@co.somerset.nj.us . There is no deadline for these
applications, as it is a revolving annual application process. For more
information, contact Ms. Kenyon at (908) 231-7021 or via email.
Planning Incentive Grant Application Form - MS Word
Preparing Preserved Farmland for Planting
Historic Preservation
The Historic
Preservation Grant Program is administered by the Somerset County
Cultural and Heritage Commission with assistance from County Planning
Board staff. Eligible applicants for funds from the program are Somerset
County government, municipal governments within Somerset County and
non-profit organizations as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 whose purpose includes historic
preservation. Eligible property criteria include historic sites, which
are listed or certified as eligible to be listed on the New Jersey
Register of Historic Places or contribute to a historic district
listed on the New Jersey Register. Acceptable activities include the
acquisition, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration and/or the
preservation of a historic site, as well as plans and reports related to
the implementation of a historic preservation project, National Register
of Historic Places nominations and required project signs. Since the
program’s inception in 1999, approximately $5.15 million dollars for 55
projects has been awarded.
Hageman Horse Barn, Franklin Township
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