Pittsgrove Township Environmental Commission

Meeting Minutes

 August 28, 2006

 

1)      Chairman Herb Wegner called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. 

 

2)      All attendees gave the pledge to the flag.

 

3)      Debby Turner-Fox offered to take the meeting minutes.

 

4)      Chairman, Wegner 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.

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

 

5)      Members in Attendance signed in and voting members designated :

a)      Regular members Herb Wegner, Kevin Garrison, Bob Morse, and Debby Turner-Fox; and Alternate member David Hunt. Also in attendance was Mayor Peter Voros.

b)      The Chairman accepted Debby Turner-Fox’s resignation as a regular member of the Environmental Commission, appointed Dave Hunt as Regular Member, Tom Figlio as Alternate #2, and Debby Turner-Fox to Associate member.

c)      Chairman Wegner will submit a letter of these changes to Municipal Clerk Conni Garton

 

6)      Kevin Garrison made a motion to approve the July 24, 2006 meeting minutes as written with the correction to the word Liccaredello, David Hunt seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous vote of all voting members. 

 

7)      Unfinished Business

a)      Redevelopment Zone– The Economic Development Subcommittee will meet on August 29th

b)      Ordinances – Wellhead Protection and T & E – Bob Morse and Dave Hunt are working on this. Dennis Miranda may be able to assist them. His contract will be reviewed to see how much work we have left to undertake with him.

c)      EIS Comments by Planning Board – Bob Morse will be the recipient of these comments when they are done

d)      Bridlewood Estates – Our letters to the township engineer, Mark Brunermer, were recently forwarded to the developer. We hope to have these letters more quickly forwarded to the developer in the future.

e)      Conservation Design – 1st meeting on September 25th following a brief EC meeting

f)        Subdivision applications for EC- the ordinance review committee will meet on September 21 to consider the request for the EC to receive its own copy of all plans. Debby Turner-Fox reported that the Shade Tree Advisory Committee (STAC) voted to become a commission upon the recommendation of the Township Solicitor and Insurance Carrier and that they would like to participate in the EC’s subdivision review process so all comments from both organizations can be coordinated and submitted together.

g)      County Smart Growth Plan – Debby Turner-Fox reported that the County has been promised a negotiations session this fall with the state. She will follow up with the County to see when that is scheduled to occur.

h)      Open Space  

(1)   Farmland PIG Status

                       Paulaitis – sign has been ordered with the state, press release complete and photo opportunity to come when sign is installed

           Schroeder – Awaiting survey

           Tamagni – Easement Value due in September

           Kibort – Herb will talk with Mrs. Kibort due to the passing of Mr. Kibort regarding their   130 acres on Holdcraft Road.

(2)   Green Acres and other Open Space Preservation Initiatives

Renwick (10, three acre lots on Lawrence Corner Road) – GA reassessing

Briar Hill - Awaiting appraisal review

Running Deer – reappraisal in process, 3rd reappraisal requested, looking for a deed of easement

Danna property – GA to determine price

(3)   Tree Preservation Ordinance – Debby Turner-Fox reported that STAC finalized the recommended ordinance and has sent it on to the Township Committee with copies to Planning Board, EC and Housing and Zoning officer. STAC will await comments and will shift their focus now to education of the public and finding an enforcement officer for the Township.

 

8)      There was nothing to report on other area meetings                                                                                   

 

9)      New Business –

a)      County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan – Debby Turner-Fox reported that the draft County Farmland Preservation Plan has now been made available to all County OSAP members, who have until September 27th to comment on it. The plan identifies priority preservation areas within the County Agriculture Development Area that at this time does not include existing PIG areas. The public will be provided an opportunity to comment on this and the County Open Space plan in November.

b)      Bob Morse reported that the EC has received a $500 grant from Valero Refinery to be used for education of the public, river clean up and other preservation efforts. The grant is expected sometime in October.

c)      Chairman Herb Wegner asked Debby Turner-Fox to explore how to deal with this grant in the Township.

 

10)  Upcoming events/meetings/training:

(a)    9/9/06 - Parvin State Park 75th Anniversary & Norma Day

(b)   9/22/06 – 8:30-3:30 TDR -  Rutgers Eco Complex Columbus $25

(c)    9/25/06 – Conservation Design

(d)   10/12/06 – 5:30-7:30 South Jersey Bayshore RSVP 856-785-0243 by 10/4

(e)    Others-ANJEC meeting at Cumberland County College, Annual Forestry Conference in October

 

11)  Issues before the Planning Board

(a)    Upcoming Developments – Parvin Estates-Debby Turner-Fox offered to call Upper Deerfield to get their take on the viability of this development, a small portion of which will be in Pittsgrove Township over a stream

(b)   Site Plans

(c)    Others –Cantrell on Porchtown Road & EatMor-commercial sub-division

 

12)  Communications –none was received this past month

 

13)  Member Comments- Herb Wegner encouraged EC members to consider a booth at other community events like Norma Day and Parvin State Park Appreciate Day. Kevin Garrison mentioned that the township needed to look for preservation funding from other sources, as funding from the State was running out.

 

14)  Public Comments- none

 

15)  Next Meeting- will be held on September 25th at 7:30 pm and will include the Conservation Design review by DRVPC

 

16)  Kevin Garrison made a motion, seconded by Bob Morse, to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 pm. The motion passed with a unanimous vote of all regular voting members.