BYRAM TOWNSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
AGENDA, JULY 23, 2015
Call to order and attendance.
Minutes for approval: April 23; June 11 (re-scheduled May meeting); July 13 (special meeting).
Correspondence and updates:
EC 2015 budget: Margaret emailed summary on 7/14/15. Of $2,600 budget, $1,448.24 to remain after tonight.
Community Forestry Management Plan: New 2015-2019 Plan approved by NJDEP Community Forestry, and payment voucher for the $3,000 grant sent to State. CSIP grant—all approved by State, and payment voucher for the $20,000 grant sent to the State.
Margaret’s memo to Township manager about our obligations under this Plan.
Article from Scott Olson: The Mansions That Are Swallowing Suburban Homes: Teardowns in suburbs becoming more typical; being replaced with much larger, more luxurious homes. Problems—destroy community character; push out older residents; strip sites. “..a form of displacement, where the family that would have been able to afford to live in the house that was demolished might not be able to afford the new house.”
Book review: Field Guide to the Morris Canal of New Jersey (A Greenway in the Making): Maps of 23 sections of the greenway. Reviewed in NY-NJ Trail Conference newsletter.
Film—Racing To Zero: Waste in the U.S. and aiming for 100% recycling. Rental $75.
List of member clubs of NY-NJ Trail Conference: From Byram, EC and Salt Shakers Trail Running Club. We are the only EC.
NJDEP Data-miner: Public can look up NJDEP permits/violations; but not easy to use. http://datamine.state.nj.us/DEP_OPRA/OpraMain/report?report=Pending+Permit+Progress+Report.
(There is an underscore between DEP and OPRA.)
Also to get information/help: NJDEP Office of Local Government Assistance, Director Cindy Randazzo, 609-633-7700, cell 609-575-3806, .
Highlands Applicability Determination application on Block 186 Lot 1 (corner of Route 206 and North Shore Road): Submitted in December 2014; EC and Cranberry Lake Community Club commented; Margaret seeking status from NJDEP.
Business:
Conservation Easement grant:
· Eileen Swan made presentation to Township Council on July 7, with Planning Board members present.
· Meeting on July 22 with Musconetcong Watershed Association, NJ Conservation Foundation, North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development to discuss use of additional William Penn Foundation funding to continue with review of actual case studies—Margaret and Councilman Scott Olson made recommendations.
· Scott and Margaret meeting July 24 with Township manager and zoning officer about continuation of the work, after which conservation easement brochure to be mailed.
Soil ordinance: Subcommittee of John, Katie, Dave to provide draft ordinance to be submitted to Planning Board and Council at once.
Planning Board:
· Applications:
ü Lake Mohawk Pool & Spa: approved by PB.
ü Cartridge Actuated Devices: EC submitted comments for Planning Board review on July 16. Numerous environmental issues, plus lack of information. (See July 13 minutes.)
ü Consolidated School apartments: 21 apartments (2 studio, 16 one-bedroom, 3 two-bedroom); 4 are COAH Affordable Housing. No complete application yet.
ü Bruce Walsh application: seeking approval for already-installed car-port; house is on State land. On August 6 PB agenda.
ü Steep slope ordinance: draft memo to Zoning Officer (Margaret emailed to EC April 28). No response.
ü Planning Board discussions and definitions: Lisa. 1. Definition of ‘new house’; Jim’s suggestion that definition stipulate that “once all first-floor walls are down, the structure becomes a new house,” regardless of why the walls came down. 2. Clarification that withholding a C.O. is not a good tool to enforce conditions in Planning Board resolutions?
Trails:
· Brookwood Park: DPW will maintain entrance; EC to schedule new work day---poison ivy, terracing steep section, removing big downed trees (Jim Reinhold received his chain saw certification). Complaints about the appearance of the entrance and trail obstructions. Manager also again discussing better guardrails; grant submitted to buy trash/recycling containers for all parks.
· 20 trailhead signs: Township Manager assembled posts/signs and will rent augur to install with EC help.
· Johnson Lake: another work day?
· Tri-Community Trail sign: when to install; inaccuracy re: Highlands Trail.
Forestry:
· No Net Loss tree planting grant application: $317,554 for 1,058 trees; work period does not start until grant agreement signed and executed, c. June or July (now awaiting NJ DAG approval, then to Byram for signatures, then to NJDEP Forestry). Then we have 54 months to complete the work, with about a year of that to get a contractor and develop detailed planting plan and two years at end for tree survival. Margaret working on initial general planting plan.
Byram Day: Emphasis is on nature and history. EC ideas thus far:
· Salamander presentation—Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, 908-782-4614, Kelly Triece, . .
· Snake presentation: Donna has info.
· Fly fishing demo, in field (needs 100’ x 30’): Margaret got info from White Water Flies; either per person @ c.$5 or general presentation for small fee; www.whitewaterflies.com, 222 Rt. 15, Lafayette, 973-600-0123, 201-230-5455.
· Where Is This? Photo contest: Pix of Waterloo; go find the spot; prize from Sunnyside. (Discuss with Andrea Proctor, who wants to do nature interpretation walk.)
· Entire village available for tables: Margaret asking for good EC spot with large lawn; walk of sites next week (possibly Wed. 7 p.m.).
· Paint walking sticks. (Discuss with Andrea and Hobby Town.)
· Anti-littering with the Doves. (Discuss with Andrea.)
· Hang recycling signs; quiz about what’s recyclable.
Musconetcong River: Michelle/Scott. MWA/MRMC re: coffer dams under Route 206 bridge—status? William Penn Foundation grant funding for projects including Lubbers Run?
Report from EC laision to Open Space Committee: Michelle. Land swap with Wild West City.
Report from Dave Gary, Council liaison to EC: Better process with Sussex County Division of Health and with Planning Board applications.
Expenditures:
· Recycling Center signage--$136: Margaret got quote from SignArts (aluminum 11 x 17 signs with vinyl graphics @ $34); seeking Township Manager’s OK to purchase four (formal EC motion at July 13 special meeting).
· Shrubs for Lubbers Run buffer at Neil Gylling Memorial Park--$159.76: Margaret got quotes from Sunnyside (four blueberry @ $19.99) and Gardens of the World (four clethra @ $19.95); seeking Township Manager’s OK (formal EC motion at July 13 special meeting).
· Blazes with QR code to on-line Trails Brochure, to add to trailhead sign posts: Margaret got quote from Voss Signs; 100 for $196. Discuss tonight.
Adjourn.