Environmental Commission Meeting
 Monday, December 20, 2004

 

1. 7:34 Meeting called to order

 

2. 7:35 Flag Salute

 

3. Open Public Meetings Act: this meeting was advertised in local papers and posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building

 

4. Roll Call

 

5. Approval of Minutes:  Bottom of first page needs a revision: report about wetland delineation was not accurate.  Greg requested that it be revised to read that wetlands provided through delineation from applications should be combined for a comprehensive plan for the Township.  Also, item #1 needs to be changed: the typo in the time will be changed to correctly read 7:34. Bob Morse will be made a motion to approve the revised minutes.  Greg Hickson seconded the motion.  All approved

 

6. We will continue working on bi-laws.  We would like to have them completed by next meeting.

 

7. An organization meeting will occur on January 24th.  Bob Widdifield will print up changes.  Members agree that 4th Monday of every month will still be our meeting time for 2005. 

 

8. Presentation of Pittsgrove’s Open Space and Recreation Plan by Tricia Aspenwall of Morris Land Conservancy

 

·        Tricia stated that she would keep it general, please ask to specify if need be.  Comments and questions are welcome.   

·        Discussion of picture on slide 3 from spung on Mr. Figglio’s property.  Herb explained how a spung is created.

·        Discussion about slide on Historic Resources: Bob Widdifield: Is Indian Head part of Pittsgrove?  Tricia: No, it’s in Deerfield, Cumberland County.  It is on the list of 10 most endangered resources in NJ.  It might cross over into Pittsgrove- we could maybe make a case that it is in Pittsgrove.

·        Discussion of Preserved Land slide:  We know that Upper Pittsgrove has over 6,000 acres preserved.  Herb thinks we should be at 3000 acres preserved farmland soon- Upland forests are about 37.4 % of Pittsgrove.  That’s about 10000 unpreserved acres of farmland and forest that we should be doing something about.  Green Acres will help to get more land in preservation status.

 

·        Discussion about how half of 10530 acres of farm-assessed non-preserved land is forested

 

·        After slide show, Tricia suggested that we go through the plan section by section, focusing more on substance than punctuation and grammar.  Herb gave two copies to people who hadn’t seen it yet.  Time was given to review before discussion ensued.

 

·        Greenway Map and Land Preservation System section hasn’t yet been written.  Discussion about forest stewardship: Upland forest is where it is proposed that we focus land preservation.  Second area is riparian greenway area-flood plain area. 

 

·        Bob Widdifield asked about other branches of greenways that aren’t designated.  Everything with slashes is the greenway corridor.  Tricia made a note to include all areas along this corridor.  Everything in conservation plan of master plan will be reflected in this section. 

 

·        Also included will be the interconnected trails system/proposed scenic byways and rail trail.  The idea is to protect rural character and farmland industry- implement buffer areas for development to be set back from the road.  Theoretically there would be safe areas for walkers/bikers.  This is difficult to do though without widening roads.  Bob Widdifield pointed out that increased signage would help. 

 

·        Linda DuBois asked if the area being discussed included areas near Parvin State Park?  Answer: Yes it does.  Almond Road is included.

 

·        Herb Wegner: this came about when talking with the planner about roads that are wide- open now but houses being built might hide the open space behind it.  These recommendations would prevent ribbon development which destroys the ambiance and vistas of Pittsgrove.  Tricia stated that sometimes if a house is set back, people might clear-cut their front yard which can’t be allowed to happen either.  Bob Widdifield stated that utility companies usually cut half the side of a road to ruin part of vistas.  Tricia stated that you could make recommendations to prohibit this for new development but changing existing lines is more difficult.  Linda DuBois stated that it has to be determined by individual parcel.  Sometimes having a house on the front of lot will preserve a farm behind it. 

·        Bob Widdifield stated that there are a lot of schools of thought about placement of homes/villages that create sense of community.  Tricia urged us to read this section of the plan and send comments by the end of December. 

·        Discussion about map of Sustainable Agriculture.  Tricia stated that this is our first priority because we have money to use for it.  When you add soils to this map, it is too busy so that is why there are two maps.  The largest area is the prime soils area. Bob Widdifield asked why the planning incentive grant area isn’t exactly where the best soils are.  Herb answered that it is because the farms don’t align with the soils.  Running Deer Golf Course and some forested areas are actually where the best soils are in the Township.  The area on the map is Almond Rd. and Garden Rd. between 553 and Parvin’s Mill Road.  The farms were contiguous or adjacent in that area and they’re farm and forest.  West of Palatine Lake is vast farmland, but not great soil.  There are state funds for those farms.  There are more factors than just good soils, such as how the best concentration of farms is there.  Great forest is in the area, too.  Incentive grants count farm and forest.  Green Acres planning incentive grant will probably be focused on upland forest area.  We need to figure out what our exact focus will be from the grant. 

 

·        Herb asked Tricia: How many other towns have embarked on something like this and what kind of success have they had?  Tricia said that it was a hard question to answer.  MLC has done 30 or so and every one that has been done has gotten significant matching Green Acres Funds.  The smart towns find people to make up other portions of the 50%.  Pittsgrove could partner with the county or other organizations.  Bob Widdifield stated that for land acquisition there is a large pool of money but it is very specific such as how it can’t be for active recreation; it has to be preservation purposes.  Bob and Tricia discussed proportions that were acceptable: ¼ tax free; ¾ market rate.

 

·        Norm asked: Would MLC be interested in partnering?  Tricia answered: We have done it before.  That is up to the board of trustees. 

 

9.Timeline discussed    

·        OSRP draft delivered to EC on 12-8-04                      

·        OSRP draft provided to Planning Board and Township Committee week of Dec. 13, 2004 Comments from EC members, Planning Board and Township Committee due to EC Chair by December 31, 2004

·        Corrected draft of OSRP delivered by Morris Land Conservancy to EC and Planning Board by January 15, 2004: Tricia said that Jan 15th is probably unrealistic. She stated that it would be returned hopefully by the end of January- definitely by

            February 15th , in time to submit for funds

·        Township Committee holds public hearing on Pittsgrove’s application for Green Acres Planning Incentive Grant, to be submitted no later than February 14, 2005                

·        Planning Board holds public hearing on OSRP in February        2005

·        Tricia stated that the Township Council needs to approve a resolution approving the submitting for Green Acres funding and that by February 8th the resolution would have to be passed.  The subject will be open to the public for comment.  January 8th- it must be publicized in the paper.  Fifteen days later it must be followed up with a second notice for the meeting.  Pete Voros requested that the EC get the timeline to him for approval by an attorney.  Tricia stated that the Planning board doesn’t have a 30 day requirement.  Only the Township Committee does for the public hearing.  At the same time the Planning Board needs to set up a public hearing before they adopt the plan.  That does not have to be before the public hearing for the Green Acres grant. 

·        Linda DuBois asked why 30 days notice is required to approve a resolution but not to adopt the plan.  Tricia answered that it is required by Green Acres.  Tricia encouraged advertising it even though it is not required since the application requires public funds. 

 

10. Member Comments: 

·        Bob Widdifield stated that the 1999 Master Plan mentioned in the Draft is actually the 2000 master plan.  Tricia made a note to change it.  Bob also asked whether scenic byways were listed.  Tricia stated that they are in there around the discussion of widening roads. 

 

·        Barry Glogau asked what would happen if on February 8th there isn’t a meeting because of snow or something; then what?  Tricia answered that it would get postponed a day or two.  Maxine Hargus stated that the Township Committee has been known to meet in snow storms and power outages.

 

·        Bob Morse said Merry Christmas and thank you to the Township Committee for coming. 

 

·        Tricia stated that any documents with Draft on them need to be returned.  She requested that we have all comments to Herb by the end of the month. 

 

·        Bob Widdifield stated that Pittsgrove is unusual in that every member of the Township Committee has been on the Planning Board at one time or another.  They are very active in the planning process and we are very lucky.

 

·        Bob Widdifield began a discussion about page 1 of the draft, the acknowledgement page.  He stated that we need to create another heading because Amy Greene and Dennis Miranda aren’t exactly staff or volunteers?  Tricia stated that she considered them staff because they have put in time, but said that she’d take them out of that category and just put them under “and”.  We could possibly say “and the work of Dennis Miranda and Amy Greene. Bob also suggested that there are several active members in the associate members that have been extremely helpful and that they should be listed.  We should also give credit on this page to the principal from Schalick High School since our Public Meeting was there and to the Parvin Recreation Committee for their help in this process.  We should also add “residents of Pittsgrove” to this page.  They were a huge help at the meeting. 

·        Bob began discussion about some things to be revised in the plan.  Bob noted that under Private Recreation, Centerton Country Club is listed.  It is now State Recreation so it needs to be moved.  On page 16 paragraph 3: mention of closest airport.  This airport is a private airport only for the owner.  Herb said that it may be used as an emergency landing- we need to check with the zoning office.  Tricia said she can take out the entire paragraph because it really has no significance on the plan.  On page 17- Personal Communication source- the draft states that 1% of the population owns a farm even though 42% of town is farmland.  Farmland assessed land is still farmland- what about the owners of that land?  Are those people included in that number?  Do we want personal communications that aren’t verifiable?  We are talking about active farms-not just farmland- we should specify.  Herb says maybe we should take it out all together- it sounds negative.  Bob Morse agreed that we should take it out.  Bob stated that on page 23, paragraph 2:  open space commission should be changed to Environmental Commission

 

 

·        Christine Seeney asked if the 500 acres listed in the chart owned by one Dubois family, because it is clumped together that way.   Herb answered that Henry and Steve DuBois are listed as the owners.  Christine: It says not preserved?  Why?  Herb: Some of those acres may already be in a stage of preservation.  Tricia: for every family name there could have been a few first names.  Family names are all clumped together.

 

 

·        Bob Morse asked if we need a dollar amount before we apply for Planning Incentive Grants.  Tricia stated that you should always ask for as much as can be justified- for the last few years it has been a formula as to who gets how much money.  Bob Widdifield stated that it usually starts with $100,000 and then the element gets rewritten.  Herb said the original element has been changed.  A lot of planning incentive grants this year were to put OSPs together.  Tricia stated that Green Acres is for wetlands and forest, but you can apply it to forested portions of farmland. 

 

·        Bob Widdifield asked whether the Sandlewood in Parvin is in the ERI.  Tricia answered that it was not but could be added.

 

·        Bob Widdifield stated that there ought to be a goal that the Township get someone on the County Planning Board.  The riverfront communities are the only people on the county board.  We need an advocate from Pittsgrove.  Having an advocate on the board in the past is how we got Pittsgrove designated as an environmentally sensitive area.

 

11. Update on Farmland and Green Acres purchases: Greenburg property not complete but it is happening

 

12. Update on Issues before the Planning Board: Greg Hickson reported that things are the same as reported last EC meeting

 

13. Christine Seeney made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Greg Hickson seconded the motion.  All approved.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 pm.