Development rights put out to pasture Sayreville's only working farm is forever preserved BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer The last farm in Sayreville will remain just that, for good.State officials and the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders last week authorized the purchase of the farm's development rights for $4.5 million. That means the land, located between the Garden State Parkway and Bordentown Avenue, can only be used for agricultural purposes and will never be developed. James Dieker currently operates the farm, which his grandfather, Fred Dieker started more than 100 years ago. "It has been the pleasure of our family to farm this land since 1903," James Dieker said, "and we look forward to continuing to do so. I thank the state, the county, Assemblyman [John] Wisniewski and the mayor and council of the Borough of Sayreville for helping our family preserve our farm." Dieker and his wife, Jeanne, grow peaches, corn, tomatoes, peppers, flowers and other produce on the farm. They also operate a seasonal farm stand on Bordentown Avenue. The farm is 17.4 acres. The Garden State Parkway took 8 acres through eminent domain in the 1950s. The Dieker family will receive $207,000 per acre under the agreement for the purchase of their development rights. The state contributed $3.6 million to purchase the development rights, while the county contributed $900,450 from its Open Space and Recreation and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. The farm will enter the New Jersey Direct Easement Purchase Program, according to Middlesex County Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel. The state holds the development rights under the program and the land is protected from all development, including residential and commercial. "The freeholders are proud to be able to help Sayreville and the county at large preserve a part of its agricultural heritage," Crabiel said. Crabiel acknowledged the contributions of state and local officials at the latest meeting of the freeholders, adding that preserving the farm was a collaborative effort. "We are also pleased to partner with the state and the borough for this project," Crabiel said. "It is yet another example of the good that could come from working together." Acquisition of open space has been a key priority for the municipality, according to Borough Councilman Stanley Drwal. The Dieker farm was given top priority for preservation in the borough's Open Space and Recreation Plan, approved last year. The list prioritized various tracts that the borough is pursuing. Council President Thomas Pollando said he is glad the farm will be preserved in perpetuity. "Through the use of farmland preservation funds, we have denied builders the opportunity to build more houses in our town," Pollando said. "With the help of Assemblyman John Wisniewski and the Board of Chosen Freeholders in Middlesex County, we have ensured that this land will be protected as farmland forever." The farm is said to be the only one still operating in Wisniewski's 19th Legislative District, which includes Sayreville, Perth Amboy, Woodbridge, South Amboy and Carteret. Wisniewski said it was important to him to save this farm from development. "It is with great pleasure that we announce that instead of more houses, this land will continue to be a farm that can be enjoyed by residents of Sayreville and the entire state for so many years to come," said. Mayor Kennedy O'Brien noted that it was Raniero Travisano, a volunteer firefighter and vice chairman of the Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Agency, who brought the matter to his attention several years ago. "He is a lifelong Sayreville resident, a former council member and county clerk," O'Brien said of Travisano. "He brought this to my attention almost three and a half years ago." O'Brien said he visited Jim Dieker at his farm during that time. "I made a promise to his mother, who still lives on the farm, that we would get this done," O'Brien said. "The credit goes to Renny Travisano for starting the process." O'Brien expressed thanks to Crabiel for working to preserve the farm, and to the Dieker family for continuing to operate it rather than sell it to developers. "Jim [Dieker] is a relatively young man," O'Brien said, "and he loves farming. His plan is to continue to farm. Jim was getting tremendous offers from developers." Freeholder Camille Fernicola, who is the liaison to the county's Open Space Committee, expressed gratitude to the Dieker family, which has raised chickens, pigs, cows and beef cattle in addition to growing produce. "The commitment to saving their land and heritage for future generations helps make Middlesex County a better place," Fernicola said.