Pittsgrove Township Environmental Commission

Minutes for Meeting of January 23, 2006

1. The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:32pm.

2. The Pledge to the Flag was given.

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,

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. Attendance: Regular members Kevin Garrison, Herb Wegner and Meghan Hack; alternate member Dave Hunt; and associate members Tom Figlio and Bob Widdifield.

5. The minutes of the November 2005 meeting were approved as written upon a motion by Dave Hunt, seconded by Kevin Garrison and a unanimous vote.

6. Unfinished/Old Business

Although our reorganization meeting is in April, our by-laws state that we set our meeting dates at the January meeting. Since the January meeting is after the Township deadline for submitting the year’s meeting dates, Kevin Garrison made a motion to vote at the next meeting to change the decision on the meeting dates to April. Dave Hunt seconded the motion; all approved.

Redevelopment Status: We need to look into recommending some adjacent properties for preservation.

PIG - Paulaitis Farm (Lawrence Corner Road near McKishen Road) - 150 acres hoping for completion by March. The title search is done and the survey will be done in about a week.

There was a discussion about cellular towers on preserved farm, as well as provisions for farms preserved before 1990. A new building for non-agriculture businesses can be 500 square feet, and pre-standing buildings can have business if and only if approved by the State Agriculture Development Board.

Preservation:

The Danna property (situated south of Thundergust at Parvin State Park) had been submitted as a possible Green Acres acquisition; however, the owners are now seeking more money than Green Acres’ appraisals would permit. The owners have subsequently listed the property for sale.

An appraisal has been completed on Running Deer golf course for a possible Green Acres acquisition. At this time we are unsure how the offer will turn out, and whether the golf course property will be deed restricted, which means it couldn’t be developed.

Renwick/Briar Hill: Both owners have agreed to entertain a preservation offer. A Wellhead Protection Area exists on the Briar Hill property, and may affect the offer on that property.

The newly adopted Stormwater Management Plan establishes setback distances from water courses, essentially negating the need for a Stream Setback Ordinance.

Clustering in Rural Residential areas has been approved by the Planning Board and is going to the Township Committee for adoption. The amended ordinance will require use of the nitrate dilution model in determining suitability of smaller lot size.

7. New Business: Possibly we could initiate signage to inform travelers “You are Entering the Maurice River Watershed”.

8. Sub-Committee Reports:

Public Outreach: Organization of river clean-up needs to get moving.

Ordinance Committee: Clear cutting – Six acres of woodland was recently clear-cut in Franklin Township. This raises concern that similar cutting could happen in Pittsgrove. As it stands, only 10 acres or more triggers the need for a permit. The Shade Tree Advisory Committee is working on an ordinance to control tree cutting in our township.

We also may need an ordinance for wellhead protection.

Site-Plan Review: The sub-committee will convene as necessary to review plans for the next Planning Board meeting.

Natural Resource Protection: Preservation efforts were discussed earlier in meeting.

9. Reports on area meetings:

Nature Tourism - Herb attended; speaker from out-of-state; hiking, camping, birding, hunting, fishing, boating, biking, etc. all is included in nature tourism which is projected to be the single largest industry in the world.

10. Upcoming meetings: February 25^th at the WARE for the Audubon Society

11. Member Comments: None

12. Public Comments: None

13. Meghan Hack made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dave Hunt seconded the motion. All approved.