Assemblyman Alex Sauickie introduced legislation on his first day in Trenton to give municipalities an additional tool to use when deciding whether to allow warehouses.

“I have been an outspoken advocate for land preservation. Many towns feel forced to allow warehouses because they can’t afford to turn down the ratable. They are usually caught between allowing additional housing, which creates additional costs for the taxpayer, or allowing the warehouse with its traffic and size problems,” Sauickie (R-Ocean) said. “My legislation, provides for 50% state funding through a voter approved bond act to provide the municipality an additional tool to preserve the warehouse land.”

Prior to introducing the legislation (A4527), the Assemblyman worked with Millstone Mayor Al Ferro on the language.

“I want to thank Assemblyman Sauickie for reaching out to Millstone on this serious issue. Warehouses are a major headache for rural communities because of our pre-cleared and level farmland. We feel the pressure of warehouse development every day. I hope that the state will step up and provide solutions like that found in the Sauickie bill,” Ferro said.

The bill allows towns to use county and municipal open space money, Green Acres funding and money from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to pay for the municipal share of the funding.

All state bond acts must be approved by the voters after they have been signed into law. The measure is awaiting assignment to an Assembly committee.

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