5-acre plot in Colts Neck donated to preservation group

January 7, 2007

BY MICHELLE GLADDEN
FREEHOLD BUREAU

COLTS NECK — Last month a five-acre plot of land on Route 537 that served as the late Marion Huber's home officially became a part of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation's preserved lands. Donated by Huber's estate, the land neighbors the Monmouth County Dorbrook Recreation area.

"Marion died in 2001, and she had an interest in seeing the property preserved," said her nephew, Michael W. Huber of Middletown in a written statement. "She supported various conservation causes over the years, and we felt NJCF would maintain the property with the integrity Marion would have wanted."

But the gift came with a stipulation — a stewardship fund.

"The stewardship fund is also very important because land donated without stewardship money can place a financial burden on the organization charged with managing the land," Huber said.

Established in 1960, the NJCF works to preserve land and natural resources throughout the state, said assistant director Greg Romano, who also heads the organization's land acquisition department. The organization is headquartered in Far Hills, Somerset county.

"To date, we have saved over 100,000 acres statewide," Romano said.

The organization was formed when a group of concerned citizens banded together to preserve some 8,000 acres in Morristown, Romano said. Plans had been made to build an airport at the site.

"Over the years, we have been involved in efforts to protect farmland and to establish and protect open space that can be used by the public as trails and passive recreation," Romano said. "Today we're focused on protecting lands that are adjacent to other public land like the one that surrounds the Colts Neck property. The idea is to create a green belt throughout the state. Our hope is that everyone will live within walking distance of a beautiful (open space) area or park."

Valued at more than $1 million, the donation also is subject to a life estate to Huber's longtime friends and employee, John Furiato and his wife, Marie.

While the conservation easement protects the land's natural, agricultural and scenic resources, easement donors — and in this case, the Furiatos — continue to own the land and to control access to it. Public access to the land is at the landowner's discretion.

Furiato said he and his wife will continue to live on the property, paying taxes and insurance as well as being responsible for its upkeep.

"We are extremely grateful to the Huber family for their generous land donation and stewardship fund," Executive Director, Michele Byers said. "This is an excellent time for landowners to think about donating conservation easements because expanded federal tax incentives only apply to donations made in 2006 and 2007."

The Congressional order to expand tax benefits to landowners and farmers who donate conservation easements include up to 50 percent of a landowner's income and 100 percent for qualified farmers' incomes.

"Over the next year and a half, conservation advocates will work hard to make these new incentives permanent," Byers said.

Return to News Coverage