Pittsgrove Township Environmental Commission

Minutes for Meeting of May 22, 2006

 

 

 1.  The meeting was called to order at 7:43 pm.

 

 2.  The pledge to the flag was given.

 

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

              “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.  In attendance were members Herb Wegner, Bob Morse, Meghan Hack, and Kevin Garrison; alternate member Dave Hunt; and associate member Tom Figlio.  Also in attendance was Mayor Voros.

 

5.  Minutes of the April 24, 2006 meeting were approved upon motion by Bob Morse, seconded by Kevin   Garrison, and unanimous vote.

 

6. Unfinished Business

 

Redevelopment Status – Sally Birdsall has agreed to be the planner.

                 

Pittsgrove Day – Steven Serwatka., the man who brought hawks, was a huge hit.  Next year, we could have a copy of the ERI and OSP to show people.  It is online.  Pete suggested having all of the committees/commissions together.  We should also be near Nancy Merritt next year.  Maybe next year, we could have a speaker bring reptiles and amphibians.  We need information to distribute about when we meet in hopes of recruiting more members.  Also, next year we should have a display about things we’ve done so far.

 

Ordinance Review – Wellhead Protection: still a priority; no new information at this time

T&E: no municipality has one at this time in NJ.  A T&E ordinance is something that Dennis Miranda is looking into for us.

 

Development Decisions:

 

Renwick property; approximately 60 acres was kept as open space.  In talking with some conservation organizations, it has been difficult to get any interested in it.  Access is limited to the northern end that goes across 2 buffers and wetlands; the other end has an electric company easement.  Both are quasi-doable.  It isn’t user-friendly access as far as conservation organizations are concerned.  NJ Conservation Foundation called Herb last Thursday and said that they have had many calls about the property.  Renwick has 10 lots for homes, and then 60 acres behind it.  The homes may go up quickly, or they may take a couple of years.  It might not be ideal for a homeowner’s association to be in charge of that acreage because it may take some time; however, because the land is behind all of these properties and doesn’t have good access, conservation organizations aren’t very interested.  They are looking for ground that has access or a vista that the public can acknowledge.

Green Acres has offered one million, but it isn’t enough for Renwick.  Herb spoke with Harry Renwick today.  He is still interested in preserving the land if he can get a certain price.  Herb will have our two appraisers look at it within the month and send them to Green Acres to determine a fair market value.  Discussion ensued about the Township taking ownership in a worst case scenario. 

   

Natural Resource-

Farmland PIG Status 

      Paulaitis Farm review will be completed by state tomorrow- hopefully closing will be next week.

      Shroder Farm will follow State modification of agreement.

      Tamagni Farm appraisals are being done for additional parcel

                           

Other Green Acres and other Open Space –

      SCIA will be meeting with Herb next week to discuss possibilities for Running Deer preservation

      Briar Hill appraisals are being reviewed by Green Acres

      Danna Property is being looked at by Parks and Forestry as well as Green Acres. 

 

Tree Ordinance: Mark Brunnemer has suggested that the EC come up with some protection for trees in       the Township. The Shade Tree Advisory Committee is working on a tree ordinance.

 

 7.  Report on area meetings:

            Bob Morse went to a meeting on May 6th at CCC about Transfer of Development Rights.  It is   expensive and time consuming.  You need to set up a sending area and receiving area.  The receiving area requires water and sewer.  If it’s county wide, we can be the sending area and somewhere such as Salem City can be a receiving area.  Citizen support is needed.  It has been tried in Northern NJ.  It seems that outright preservation is still our better option.   

            Pete Voros and Herb Wegner attended the Salem County celebration of 20,000 acres of farmland preserved.

            Herb Wegner attended the May 18th meeting on Greenways at South Harrison Township.  The meeting was about establishing greenways on lake and stream corridors, as well as along preserved properties.  The Renwick property fits the mold.  The meeting also talked about Rails to Trails.  Herb has taken steps to get the rail trail in Pittsgrove submitted to Green Acres. 

            Open Space tour in Salem occurred.  Christine Seeney attended.  The Morris Land Conservancy attended and is very impressed by the open space and farmland in Salem County.  We have good soil and substantial deciduous forests. 

 

8. New Business:

            Site Plan reviews - Herb sent his comments about the clustering proposal, Bridlewood Estates, for Steve Hall’s proposal to the township engineer.  Members looked at and discussed the plan during the meeting. 

 

            Conservation Design: ANJEC awarded Pittsgrove 3/4ths of what we asked for; they’re giving Pittsgrove $7,500 grant to work on clustering ordinance.  This can conserve open space and give us viable developments.

 

            Summer meeting ideas: Dave Hunt suggested having our June or July meeting at Parvin State Park

 

            Herb is sending a resolution to the Township to get one more set of Plan drawings

 

9. Recent and Upcoming meetings: ANJEC cruise on June 10th and 18th.

 

10. Community Events – None discussed         

 

11. Issues before the Planning Board  -  No additional discussion

                

12. Communications: Thank you letters have been sent to businesses that sponsored the Lake Clean-up.   

                       

13. Member Comments: Bob Morse suggested that we buy some bricks for $50 for Green Branch Park

     

14. Public Comments: Pete Voros gave us news that, unfortunately, Dave Mulford is leaving Pittsgrove Township to work for Cumberland County.  Also Pete made a recommendation that we considering putting a question on November’s ballot.  It could be about soils, threatened species, etc.  It would need to be done by August.  It’s a non-binding referendum that could work to give Township Committee suggestions.

     

 15. Bob Morse made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 pm. Kevin Garrison seconded the motion.

 All approved.