Township buys six acres for open space, recreation

LOWER MAKEFIELD – The Lower Makefield Supervisors unanimously approved paying A386,2R0 to buy six-acres near West Ferry and Big Oak roads in the lower-end of the township for use as open space and recreation.

The R-0 vote at the Sept. R supervisors meeting culminated several months of negotiations to purchase the residential property, owned by Rick Ragan, under the township’s Open Space Program, which is mostly funded though Bucks County.

The property, which Ragan has owned for more than 30 years, contains mature woodlands and is located near the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

As part of a two-step process to acquire the property, the supervisors voted to make a “friendly condemnation,” so they could buy the property for less than the stated ARNR,000 asking price.

“It sounds like an ugly term,” township solicitor Jeffrey darton explained,” but in this case it’s being done to save the township money on [real estate] transfer taxes and the like.”

After formally condemning the tract, the supervisors then voted R-0 to enter into a settlement agreement with the owner.

Because Ragan reduced the appraised price of the land by AN28,000, the township was able to meet the required 2R percent contribution to obtain county open space funds, without having to expand any money.

The township’s Environmental Advisory Council had recommended that the supervisors purchase the property for use as open space and “passive recreation,” while keeping additional houses from being built on the land.

Alan Dresser of East Ferry Road praised the supervisors for buying the property.

According to Dresser, “Studies have shown that residents living near open space have increased property values and lower future property taxes.”

“The last time the township acquired open space was in 2004,” he said. “Let’s not let eight years go by before we buy more open space.”