Pittsgrove Township Environmental Commission

Minutes for Meeting of February 27, 2006

 

 

  1. The meeting was called to order at 7:34 pm.

 

  2.  The pledge to the flag was given.

 

        3.  The Open Public Meetings Act compliance statement was read as follows.

          “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.    Attendance: Regular members Herb Wegner, Bob Morse, Meghan Hack, and Debby Turner-Fox; alternate member Dave Hunt; and associate members Timothy Hack and Tom Figlio.

 

5.    The minutes of the January 23, 2006 meeting were unanimously approved as written upon motion by Bob Morse, seconded by Dave Hunt.

 

6.   Unfinished Business

 

          Dave Hunt made a motion to set our meeting dates every April.  Bob Morse seconded the motion.      All approved.                

 

          Redevelopment Status – The role of the EC can be better defined as our Vice-Chairman, Bob Morse,   will now be attending the Economic Development Committee’s Redevelopment Sub-Committee       meetings and can assist communications between the EC and Redevelopment Committee.  He has   attended the first meeting and suggested an environmental impact review be conducted early in the            process.

                

          Public Outreach – Stream Clean-up April 22nd.  Debby drafted a flyer; all members reviewed it at       the meeting.  A few changes were suggested.  Trish has done leg work in the schools.  Meghan will     send an email to the Commission this week to get help with the rest of the items on the to-do list that          Debby put together.

 

          Ordinance Review –

          - Clustering in Rural-Residential Areas is before Twp. Committee.  It will be introduced at the next   Township Committee meeting, February 28, 2006.

       - Wellhead Protection: Our Township does not currently have an ordinances; this is something we  should be proactive about.  The Commission should submit to the Planning Board some examples of     Wellhead protection ordinances; we’ll work on this between now and the next meeting.

          - Threatened and Endangered Species: The Planning Board wants the Environmental Commission to   address the idea of what the Township should do when a NJ Threatened and Endangered Species is         found on a property.  The current ordinance is 6042-K. Perhaps we could elaborate on this.

 

          Bob Morse made a motion that we add to Section E (Environmental Impact Statement Checklist) a     requirement that the developer for major subdivisions gather Threatened and Endangered Species            data from the Landscape Project database.  Also, in the first paragraph we remove the word              preferably in line four.  Regarding surveys for T & E species, the professional must conduct surveys      at appropriate times of the day and/or night and year.  Debby Turner-Fox seconded the motion that      we make this recommendation.  All approved; motion was carried.

       

          Site Plan Review –

          Impact of EC reviews - need to identify what is needed in Environmental Impact Statement for          subdivisions.   We need to figure out a way to get second opinions earlier in the application process,      so as to protect threatened and endangered plant and animal species, but also avoid the Township      being sued by potential developers.   

       

          Natural Resource – Farmland PIG Status – Closing is set for the end of March.  A

           second farm is being surveyed for fee simple

                         

      Green Acres and other Open Space – No change in Danna, Clark, and Running Deer

          - Appraisals ordered for Renwick (Lawrence Corner and McKishen) and Briar Hill properties. Herb   is meeting with appraisers to get started. The next step is to determine reasonable offers for the   property owners.  Herb is trying to find sources of funding to help with purchases. 

 

7.  Report on area meetings: None to Report

 

8. New Business: Franklin Township is holding a public hearing introducing a Tree Ordinance.

 

  9. Upcoming meetings:

                 March 3rd – Agriculture Preservation Summit at Cook College

                 March 3rd – Balancing Growth and Preservation 8:30 am to 2 pm

   The Pen Ryn Mansion, Ben Salem, PA

                 March 11th – Conservation Leadership, 10 am to 4:30 pm at the Gloucester County Library

                 March 13th – Where is Your Town Growing To? Ramada Inn Vineland, NJ

                 March 15th and 16th – GIS Conference at the Rutgers University Campus

                 March 18th – EC Training to Protect Natural Resource; Egg Harbor (ACUA) on Delilah Road

                 March 21st - 6:45 Elmer Grange; County Open Space Planning Advisory Committee Meeting

                 March 22nd - 6:45 Salem County Community College; same as above

       

10.     Community Events    

May 20th - Pittsgrove Day; $200 for 1-1/2 to 2 hr presentation (Steve S.) 1pm-3pm would probably be best.

 

11. Issues before the Planning Board

                 Upcoming Developments: Briar Hill, Briar Point, Hall Farm

 

      12. Communications: None

                  

      13. Member Comments: Tom Figlio asked for a current list of members and emails

     

      14. Public Comments: Tim Hack thanked the Commission for their efforts.

     

      15. Bob Morse made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Debby Turner-Fox seconded the motion.  All

approved.