Minutes for the Pittsgrove Township Environmental Commission

Meeting of November 22, 2004

 

 

  1.  Meeting called to Order at 7:34pm. 

 

  2.   Pledge to the Flag

 

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

 

  4.  Members in attendance:  Herb Wegner, Greg Hickson, Kevin Garrison, Meghan Hack, Bob Morse, Barry Glogau, Dave Hunt, Bob Widdifield; also in attendance: Dennis Miranda, Maxine Hargu, Tom Figlio, Blake Maloney (from Upper Deerfield), Norm Lenchant, and Scott Angus and Curtis Helm of Amy Greene     Environment Consultants, Inc. 

 

  5.  Approval of Minutes of the October 25, 2004 Meeting: Greg Hickson made a motion to approve, Meghan Hack seconded the motion; all approved.

 

6.     Status of By-laws was tabled until our next meeting.  Bob Widdifield emailed comments for certain items to be added to and/or reorganized.  Copied were given to EC members.

 

7.  Presentation of Pittsgrove’s Environmental Resource Inventory by Mr. Scott Angus and Mr. Curtis Helm of Amy Greene Environment Consultants, Inc. and Comments and Inputs by Environmental Commission members.   

 

·        ERI was defined.  It is a dynamic document that will require updating as more data becomes available

·        Bob Widdifield asked where it would be added to the Master Plan.  Answer: It will be amend/support/update the conservation element in the MP.

·        Question:  Why isn’t Rainbow Lake classified as a Category 1 waterway?  Answer:  The Township has submitted to the State that all areas along Muddy Run should be Category 1.  More to follow on this.

·        There are some discrepancies with maps which requires field investigation (wetland mapping)

·        Question about wetland delineations: Greg Hickson stated that wetlands provided through delineation from applications should be combined for a comprehensive plan for the Township.   Answer:  It could be done at a township level, but it isn’t possible at a state level due to changing water tables and development.

·        Question: How do vernal pools become certified?  Answer: Get volunteers from DEP program to scout the ponds.  In order to become certified, one obligate species or two facultative species must be present in the pond.  If tiger salamanders or swamp pink were present at a pond, a 1,000 foot buffer would be enforced.

·        General permit #6 allows builders to fill isolated wetlands (which could be vernal pools).

·        Permits discussed:  General permits include building things like: 750 foot addition, minor road crossing, utility line, filling of a ditch.  Individual Permits are granted when there is public need and no other plausible alternative.  An example would be widening a road.

·        Dennis Miranda pointed out that there are many vernal ponds in the forested wetlands of Pittsgrove that need to be surveyed for presence of obligate and facultative species and possible threatened/endangered plant life. 

·        Question: How often should inventories be updated?  Answer: Every three to five years would be ideal.

·        Question: Doesn’t the ERI open up funding to survey forested wetlands in Pittsgrove?  Answer: Limited funding might be available.  There are time constraints for observing species like the tiger salamander.  They breed in December and then burrow under ground.

·        Dennis Miranda mentioned that Pittsgrove is not like other towns because it still has much of its natural character.  We have an opportunity to keep that character if we are proactive about preserving it. 

·        Herb Wegner said that constructing the ERI has allowed us to be aware of what we have in Pittsgrove.  Even more than farmland, we have the treasure of large forests. 

             

8.     Discuss Time-Line for Project Completion

Herb stated that we are moving at a rapid pace to get the OSP completed. 

        AGEC delivers final draft ERI to EC for comment

        AGEC delivers final draft ERI to Planning Board

        OSRP draft due to be delivered to EC on 12-6-04: it will be emailed to members and copies will be at the Municipal Building.              

        EC finalizes comments on OSRP at 12-20-04 meeting OSRP final draft to EC and Planning Board by 12-31-04

        Planning Board holds public hearing on OSRP on Jan. 2, 2005

 

9. Update on Farmland and Green Acres purchases: Two weeks ago, four applications for Farmland Preservation Grants were turned in.  They were:  227 acres for the golf course, 347 acres buffering the Greenburg property, 87 acres near that, and 200 acres for a Running Dear development easement.  These properties are all adjacent to Parvin State Park.

 

10. Issues before Planning Board:  The permit for development on Lawerence Corner/McKishen is still incomplete.  A property on Rt40 is in the survey stage; three is a proposal for a one acre building on land that has wetlands.

 

11. Member Comments: Dave Hunt acknowledged the importance of encouraging neighboring towns to move along with ERIs and OSPs.

 

  12.  Public Comments:

·        A question was asked about what it would take for Pittsgrove citizens to plan trips to scout vernal ponds and look for endangered and threatened species like swamp pink and tiger salamanders.  Answer: A GPS unit to keep track of exactly where we are and a digital camara to record what we find. 

·        Maxine Hargus asked if it was okay that the public meetings for the OSP were going to occur in 2 different years.  Answer: The meetings will be in the same year, however it would be okay if they weren’t too.  Theat rule only applies to issues with a governing body like the Township Committee.  

 

      13.  Bob Morse motioned to adjourn the meeting, Greg Hickson seconded the motion; all approved.  Meeting was adjourned.