North Crosswicks Friends of Open Space

The Organization is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open space in Rural Resource Conservation Zone (RRC) Zone, an area protected by the RRC ordinance. It is consistent with Hamilton’s master plan along the Crosswicks Creek in the southern, still rural portion of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey.. The organization educates people about the extent, location, and inherent value of open space in the RRC Zone.

RRC Zone - Don’t Rezone - Leave Alone - Protect – Preserve

TIMELINE

2012 NCFOS FOUNDED 2012 AS A 501-C3 with 4 members

• 2012 – 2016Opposition to an 18acre tract of farmland in North Crosswicks owned by the Diocese of Trenton proposed to be a cemetery in the RRC zone next to the crossroads hamlet of North Crosswicks. 19 Hearings in total.
• 2016After numerous zoning board hearings with planner, lawyer, and expert witnesses against the application including Princeton Hydro, a traffic, and an expert witness on cemeteries. The zoning board narrowly decided in favor of cemetery but the application failed because a super majority was needed which they failed to reach.
• 2017 or 2018 18 acre tract was purchased and preserved as Green Acres by an alliance of funding from environmental groups (including Save Hamilton Open Space, North Crosswicks Friends of Open Space, and Green Acres.)
• 2018 to present Constant testimony and opposition in front of a hostile zoning board against endless variances given that undermine the ordinance protecting the RRC zone. We have contested solar fields on farmland, over-sized buildings, and over-sized garages all of which are not permitted by the RRC ordianance because they are non-agricultural uses on agricultural and environmental lands.