Pittsgrove Township Environmental Commission

Minutes for Meeting of July 24, 2006

 

 

  1.  Chairman Herb Wegner called the meeting to order at 7:42 pm.

 

  2.  All attendees gave the pledge to the flag.

 

  3.  The Chairman read the Open Public Meetings Act compliance statement:

              “Adequate notice pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act has been given of this meeting by:

a. Forwarding notice thereof to Today’s Sunbeam and the Daily Journal, both of which were printed

    in the January 10, 2006 edition of the papers,

            b. Posting notice thereof on the community events bulletin board at the Pittsgrove Township

           Municipal Building, and

            c. Filing notice thereof in the Office of the Municipal Clerk for Pittsgrove Township.

                        (All of the above was done at least 48 hours in advance)”

 

  4.  Members in attendance: Regular members Herb Wegner, Meghan Hack, Kevin Garrison, and Debby Turner-Fox; and alternate member David Hunt.

         

  5.  Debby Turner-Fox made a motion to approve the minutes as written of the June 26, 2006 meeting.                  Kevin Garrison seconded the motion.  All approved.

 

  6.  Unfinished Business

 

            Redevelopment Status: The Economic Development Committee met with the planner.  They are aware of environmental concerns and are eager to comply with everything necessary. 

 

            Ordinance Review: Bob Morse is working on the wellhead protection ordinance.

                        T&E: The NJ Audobon Society is working on T & E Habitat legislation.  Dave Hunt will  contact ANJEC and see what he can find out.

 

            Conservation Design:

            Contracts for DVRPC and Sally Birdsall, and acceptance of the ANJEC Grant will hopefully be signed tomorrow by the Mayor. A CD subcommittee will formed and a meeting will be           scheduled with DVRPC.

    

            EIS: Bob Morse is working on comments from the Planning Board

 

      Bridlewood Estates comments: Herb will call Mark Brunnemer to see if he contacted Fralinger about             EC comments

   

            Site Plans: Herb sent a letter to the Township Committee requesting all applicants provide 17 copies            of paperwork for approvals being requested of the Planning Board so that the Environmental  Commission can receive one copy ahead of time.  The Shade Tree Commission is willing to                meet with us to complete plan reviews so that we could collaborate on a comment list.

 

            Meeting at Parvin: Postponed for now

 

            Open Space and Farmland PIG Status:

      Paulaitis Farm has agreed to post a sign stating that it is preserved farmland

            Schroder Farm’s agreement signed July 21, 2006

      Tamagni Farm reappraisals were sent to the State two weeks ago for review.

      Kibort Farm currently intends to preserve some of their farm

 

            Green Acres and other Open Space:

                        Renwick- Green Acres to evaluate and try to boost the upper appraisal for the property.  If the owner accepts, we will need to pull funds from many sources.

            Briar Hill- Awaiting appraisal review from Trenton

                        Running Deer- Reappraisal is in process.  Green Acres is interested in using that appraisal.  Salem County Improvement Authority is interested if there is a fee simple purchase.

                        Danna property next to Thundergust- Herb will meet with the owner July 26.  She is interested  in separating her house from the property.  

 

Tree Ordinance: The Shade Tree Advisory Committee will be dissolved and a Shade Tree Commission will be formed.  We will be given a copy of the tree ordinance by the end of the                 week.

 

  7.  Report on area meetings:

 

June 29th- Herb Wegner, Debby Turner-Fox, and Mayor Voros attended the County Open Space Meeting.

 

July 17th - There was a largely attended meeting about the Future of Preservation.  There was a two hour brainstorm session about what was working and wasn’t good about our current preservation programs.

           

GSPT- Pittsgrove Grant Money was approved from Green Acres.

 

Debby attended a County Freeholder meeting last week where she learned about how Burlington County is piloting a program to experiment with a different payment process for farmers preserving land.  It eases the burden of the farmer incurring the tax burden of being paid a lump sum for the land.

 

  8.  New Business:

 

Members examined the site plan for Deerfield Estates development because the proposed road goes through Thundergust Branch and attendant wetlands in Pittsgrove.

 

Shade Tree Advisory Committee sent comments on Briar Hill stating that the clustering plan presented actually cut more large trees than their non-clustering plan.  Conservation Design Ordinances will help this type of situation in the future.

 

  9.  Upcoming meetings/training: Nothing noted.

 

10. Issues before the Planning Board: The proposed Liccardello development on Porchtown Road

            will be presented at the August 1st Planning  Board meeting.    

 

11. Communications:

 

The EC was sent an Environmental Impact Report for Block 2201, lot 18.  They want to divide it into 5 lots for single family homes. 

 

A letter was received requesting interpretation about wetland buffers for Block 1510, lots 4 and 5.    

                       

12. Member Comments:

 

Debby reported that the Smart Growth Plan will be having a kick-off meeting with NJ Counties before September.

           

Centerton Dam needs renovations and upgrades.  The homeowners have applied and been rewarded a grant from Division of Community Affairs.

     

 13. Public Comments: None

     

14.    Debby Turner-Fox made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:18 pm. Kevin Garrison seconded the

motion. All approved.