Back Roads

Sourland Planning Council www.sourland.org Spring 2006 Toward A “Smart Future” Phase II of Smart Growth Begins

Phase I of the Smart Growth and exclusively dedicated to end product is consistent with the project for which the Sourland Sourland Mountain issues, the SPC community values of each of the Planning Council received $80,000 will manage the funds. The seven participants, as well as providing for from the New Jersey Department of municipalities, three counties, and the long term protection of the Community Affairs (NJDCA) is three nonprofit organizations, as unique character of the Sourlands. now complete. The final report of well as several State agencies, will Thanks to NJDCA for their gen- all the information gathered during be invited to appoint members to a erous support of this important the course of this project has been steering committee which will work. printed in a limited edition book approve the overall plan and all which has been distributed to the expenditures of grant funds. The municipalities and counties, as well tasks enumerated in the grant agree- Visit Our Website as other participants. All of the ment are: (1) Selection of Steering same reports, along with maps and Committee and Planning www.sourland.org other graphics, are also available on Consultant(s); (2) Data Collection our SPC website at www.sour- and Analysis; (3) Regional and It features land.org. We are very excited about Community Visioning Sessions; (4)  A virtual tour of the the enormous amount of informa- Preparation of a Draft Sourlands tion which has now been assembled Comprehensive Management Plan.  Maps of the Sourlands documenting the special character The result of this process will be a  A calendar of events of the Sourlands. In future newslet- set of policy recommendations for ters we will summarize the various land use, conservation, and open  News and information reports that are in the book. space that will be presented to the about the organization and planning boards and governing bod- our planning initiatives The Council has now signed a ies of the towns and counties for  A history of the Sourlands contract with the State for an addi- their consideration.  tional $100,000 to build upon this Links to related organiza- tions information in Phase II of the This kind of regional planning process called "Smart Future." As will require a great deal of public  The full Sourlands Smart the only organization specifically involvement and input so that the Growth Phase I Report

The Sourlands Planning Council is a non-profit volunteer organization formed to protect the ecological integrity, historical resources and special character of the Sourland Mountain region. Back Roads Page 2

Meeting information President’s Message Please come

The Sourland Planning Council trustees will meet during 2006 on the dates listed below. As a nonprofit organization, the Sourland Planning Council We hold our meetings at the historic Hopewell cannot endorse candidates running for election. We can, how- Railroad Station on Railroad Avenue, just off ever, support policies that we believe will enhance our mission North Greenwood Avenue in Hopewell Boro, of protecting the fragile environment of the Sourland Mountain. at 7:30 p.m. They are the first Tuesday of every It is with hopeful enthusiasm that I have read the final recom- other month, except for August. Note that this is a change from 2005. You are warmly invited mendations of Governor Corzine’s Transition Team Environ- to join us. mental Policy Group. The report can be read in its entirety at Apr 4 Jun 6 Oct 3 (Annual meeting & http://www.state.nj.us/governor/home/pdf/environment.pdf. elections) Dec 6 Four subcommittees-Air, Water, Communities, and Natural Resources-have developed a plan to continue and expand Officers and Trustees of the upon the environmental achievements of previous administra- Sourland Planning Council tions of both political parties. Recommendations which could 2005 - 2006 specifically benefit the Sourlands are: Elected at the annual meeting on Oct. 6, 2005.  Update the 1996 Water Supply Master Plan.  Officers Strengthen all of the State’s water rules. President: Andrea Bonette,  Oppose budget cuts at the Department of Environmental Montgomery Twp. Protection, even in the light of New Jersey’s current fiscal Vice President: Steven Sacks-Wilner, problems. Montgomery Twp. Treasurer: Cliff Wilson,  Immediately repeal the notorious “Fast Track” legislation East Amwell Twp. which allows developers to push projects through local Secretary: Tom Kilbourne, approvals processes without sufficient time for thorough Hopewell Twp. Grants Director: Jennifer Bryson, consideration of impacts. Hillsborough Twp.  Strongly support the Highlands and the Pinelands, which Trustees by association must have a positive effect on the Ken Bogen, Lambertville Sourlands as well. Tracy Carluccio, East Amwell Twp.  Steven Davison, Hopewell Twp. Adopt long-delayed scientific recommendations that Richard Greene, Hopewell Borough would add protection of habitat to existing protections for Jerry Haimowitz, Raritan Borough the critters that live there. Robert Harris, Hopewell Twp.  Judy Jengo, Hopewell Borough Reward woodland owners by allowing them to qualify for Patricia Sziber, Hopewell Twp. favorable property tax treatment for conservation and Catherine Urbanski, West Amwell Twp. habitat protection, rather than only for logging their forests. Honorary Trustees Joel Coyne, West Amwell Twp. We plan to work with the municipalities, counties, and nonprof- David DelVecchio, Lambertville it organizations with a presence in the Sourlands to support Tim Dillingham, Hopewell Borough State proposals that would protect our Mountain. Truman Goines, Lambertville Robert Harris, Hopwell Twp. Andrea Bonette, President Leonard Lance, Flemington Sourland Planning Council Nancy Palladino, West Amwell Twp. Back Roads Page 3 Alexauken Creek Watershed Protection Plan

West Amwell Township has (the grantee), the City of received a grant to develop a protec- Lambertville, Hunterdon County tion plan for the Alexauken Creek Planning Board, Hunterdon Land watershed and the Sourland Plan- Trust Alliance, Delaware ning Council is a partner in the proj- Riverkeeper Network, The Regional ect. SPC trustee Jerry Haimowitz Planning Partnership, and Stony attended a kickoff meeting held Brook - Millstone Watershed November 10, 2005 at the West Association. Amwell Twp municipal building on In the first year of the study, the behalf of the Sourland Planning Delaware Riverkeeper will be Council, as did trustee Cathy Alexauken Creek developing a visual watershed Urbanski, who attended officially as assessment technique. This will be a member of the West Amwell funds to other entities to reduce done by a small group of experts Environmental Commission. water quality impairment and, for training and managing a team of lay the past few years, New Jersey's Alexauken Creek flows from the top volunteers who will walk the water- Nonpoint Source Program has tar- of the Sourland ridge north towards shed and report what they find on geted these grants on the develop- Mount Airy, then hooks southwest standardized forms that Delaware ment of watershed restoration and to flow along Creek Road into Riverkeeper is developing. The first protection plans. Lambertville - roughly six miles of training was held February 25, the still-pristine waterway. (See the The purpose of the project is to second on March 11. Volunteers will map.) The Alexauken Creek Water- develop a plan that will recommend then pair up and be assigned about a shed drains 15.12 square miles, specific measures for protecting, one-mile stream segment to walk mostly in West Amwell, but also maintaining and, where possible, for a one-time survey in February including Delaware, Lambertville improving the water quality and and March. and East Amwell. The main stem is ecological integrity of the streams To learn more about this project about five miles long and drains within the watershed. The project contact Faith Zerbe, Monitoring about 40% farm land, 39% forest, will run from August 2005 to Coordinator at the Delaware 13% developed land, 6% wetlands August 2008. Riverkeeper 215-369-1188 or and 2% barren lands and open Princeton Hydro LLC is coordinat- [email protected]. water. The Alexauken has been des- ing the work for the Township. ignated a Category One stream by A second initial task involves com- Princeton Hydro is a consulting firm NJDEP, which affords it extra pro- piling and synthesizing existing GIS specializing in water and wetland tections. (Graphical Information System) and resource management. Chris Krupka other watershed data of the sort The grant comes from New Jersey of Princeton Hydro is the project's found in SPC’s Smart Growth Department of Environmental manager and point of contact. At the Report. Protection's 319(h) program, which meeting, Chris emphasized that provides funds for nonpoint source active participation of all partners is Anyone interested in participating pollution control projects. Under critical to the success of the project. should contact Chris Krupka at: federal guidelines, each state may The other partners, in addition to 908 237-5660 or pass through a portion of 319(h) SPC, are: West Amwell Township [email protected] Back Roads Page 4

Become Poet’s Corner

a member! We begin a new feature with this issue of Back Roads. Poet’s Corner will feature work by residents and friends of the Sourlands that evokes the beauty and character of the region. We are proud to inaugu- Sourland rate the Poet’s Corner with this piece by SPC trustee Dick Greene. Planning Council We invite submissions. Please send them to Steven Davison at [email protected].

Join or renew your membership in a grassroots community of individuals interested in preserving and protecting First Notes the precious natural resources of the Sourland Mountain region. Our goal? Though winter is with us still, Save the Sourlands! the birds have begun to sing Membership and dues information are on to the cues of spring, the enclosed envelope. What do you get? Back Roads newsletter and other mailings first a cardinal, then a wren, to keep you informed and interested in efforts to Save the Sourlands. A good feel- and now this morning in early March, ing, too! as a chill dawn pinks the sky,

Want to know more? See our Web site at the wistful fluting of a mourning dove www.sourland.org which, after winter's longeurs, or call Andrea Bonette at (609) 466-0641. when few but crows were heard,

now finds itself bestirred

to loose its song.

~ Dick Greene Back Roads Page 5 Join to support the Sourland Planning Council – or renew now (Our year runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31).

Please help us protect the Sourland Mountain Region by contributing as generously as you can. The SPC is run by volunteers but has reached a level of activity that requires professional staff to meet our goals. We are now raising funds to support such a position. If you want to give something extra for the professionalization and growth of our programs, please con- sider the “Other” option below. Your larger contribution can make a vital difference. And thank you! Fill out and mail to: Sourland Planning Council, P.O. Box 72, Hopewell NJ 08525-0072.  Support Levels: Renewal or New Family: $25 Individual: $15 Senior (62 and older): $10 Patron: $50 Other______ Matching grant available through employer. Name: ______Address:______Zip:______ Please do not publish my name. Phone number:______Date today:______E-mail address:______

(SPC promises to never sell, rent, distribute or lend your name or e-mail address without your permission) I want to receive your newsletter electronically (thereby conserving precious resources) I want to receive periodic electronic bulletins about news, events, regulations, projects or policies affecting the Sourlands. Want to know more? Visit our Web site at www.sourland.org or contact President Andrea Bonette at (609) 466-0641 or [email protected]. VOLUNTEERSVOLUNTEERS NEEDED!NEEDED! Do we sound busy? You bet we are! And all of our efforts are conducted entirely by volunteers! To continue our efforts, we need volunteers for tasks large and small, routine and specialized. If you would like to know how you could make a dif- ference, please contact President Andrea Bonette at [email protected] and tell her about your ideas, skills and interests. We need some elbow grease, too. Help us SAVE THE SOURLANDS. Back Roads Page 6 News About the Sourlands

Regional News October 31, 2006, to determine Boro for opening its historic train whether it has eliminated the pollu- station as a meeting place for the Stormwater study. Princeton Hydro, tion problems. SPC trustees. an environmental consulting firm, has received a regional grant to To enhance erosion control, 3M West Amwell township has passed a study stormwater across the entire plans to completely cap the existing Stormwater Management Plan and a Sourland Mountain region. The goal fines pile and place all new fines new Stream Corridor Ordinance that is to find ways to conserve the inside the quarry pit. The company much more effectively protects our water that falls on the Mountain so also has begun studying additional streams from erosion and the that it can recharge local water sup- water purification options in case destructive encroachment of devel- plies and at the same time maintain the current plans do not provide opment. The township formed a the purity of the headwater streams adequate pollution control. Plant community forestry committee and that begin in the Sourlands. The manager Keith Jacobs says the com- began work on a 319(h) grant to major streams include Alexauken pany will keep making improve- prepare a watershed protection plan Creek and the Stony Brook in West ments until the pollution problem is for Alexauken Creek, which flows Amwell, Back Brook in East resolved. If you have comments or from the top of the ridge north Amwell, Roaring Brook-Cruser questions, contact Jerry Haimowitz towards Mount Airy, then hooks Brook in Hillsborough, Cat Tail at 908-429-1717 or southwest to flow along Creek Road Brook-Rock Brook in Montgomery, [email protected]. Jerry is a into Lambertville-roughly five and Rocky Brook-Bedens Brook in Sourland Planning Council trustee miles of still-pristine waterway. Hopewell. The Alexauken flows and a member of the 3M Technical Advisory Committee. In East Amwell township, the D&R into the Delaware; Back Brook Greenway, with support from the flows into the South Branch of the New Jersey Green Acres program, Raritan; and the other streams feed Local News has purchased a heavily wooded fif- the Millstone River. Hopewell Boro hosted another of teen-acre property on Mountain Progress at the 3M Quarry. The our sold-out bus tours of the Road from an owner who cherished 3M quarry at Belle Mead has been Sourlands last fall. Boro resident his unspoiled woods and wanted to working to control the environmen- and Council trustee Judy Jengo preserve it. D&R is in the process tal problems caused by their mineral organized the two-hour-long tour. of assembling another 50 acres of fines-the rock dust left over from This is a great way to get to know conservation easements from the quarrying process. Throughout the Sourlands, and it's only $15 (for adjoining landowners that will per- the life of the quarry, these fines the bus), so look for notices about manently protect a significant swath have been heaped on the slopes out- the next one. So far, we've begun of Sourland ridge. side the quarry pit, where they now the tours from Montgomery, East Lambertville became the first New form an enormous pile. Rain washes Amwell, and Hillsborough town- Jersey municipality to adopt a the fines into Roaring Brook, the ships, so the next one might start in stormwater management plan as an upper forks of Cruser Brook and the West Amwell. element of its Master Plan. These headwaters of Back Brook, causing Hopewell Boro has been active on plans were state-mandated. The city the water to appear milky gray. several other fronts, as well. It council has also voted against the On November 1, 3M announced adopted a stormwater management use of city funds to support a threat- completion of a new fines erosion plan, became a designated Tree City ened lawsuit by Hunterdon County control system, although significant USA community, and received a against the state's Highlands preser- damage was done by 14 inches of Green Acres grant award as a part- vation act. In December 2004,the rain in October. The system will ner in the open space preservation City Council and the Planning become fully effective only when efforts of the beautiful St. Michaels Board passed resolutions to support the vegetation planted to stabilize property on Carter Road. the designation of the Sourland Mountain Region as a special the fines pile becomes established. And the Sourland Planning Council 3M will monitor the system until resource area. owes a special thanks to Hopewell continued >>> Back Roads Page 7

News About the Sourlands (continued)

Hillsborough Township recently Mountains. Such a corridor can Montgomery has contracted with voted to extend the Special provide a valuable service in pre- Weston Solutions to complete due Resource Area (SRA) identification venting the Estate from becoming diligence before the sale, and then to include the GSA depot. Says an ecologic island. perform the environmental remedi- Planning Board chair Marian ation. Fenwick-Freeman, “given the prox- Montgomery Township is on the imity of the GSA depot to the verge of acquiring the 268-acre site About 140 acres will be preserved Sourlands, it made sense to treat of the former North Princeton as open space and parkland. The them as a single environmental Developmental Center, off Route remainder will be redeveloped for resource”. In other news, in part- 601 in Skillman. The Township mixed use, with specifics yet to be nership with several non-profit will purchase the abandoned insti- decided. Many dilapidated struc- organizations, including SPC and tution from the State of New Jersey tures will be demolished, but the the township of Hillsborough, Duke for $5.95 million, with closing Township plans to restore and reno- Farms has created a coalition expected this spring. vate at least some of the buildings, focused on creating a link between with a particular eye toward pre- The first order of business is to serving those with the most histori- the 2700 acre Duke Estate in make the site safe and clean up Hillsborough and the Sourland cal significance that are suitable for environmental contamination. adaptive re-use.

"We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." ~ Albert Einstein SourlandsSourlands SStortoree New Jersey’s Sourland Mountain $20.00 Softcover, 162 pages, by T.J. Luce

Plush Red-breasted grosbeak with $8.00 green Save the Sourlands sash Squeeze it and it sings!

Save the Sourlands.org $1.00 bumper sticker

To order, call or email Andrea Bonette at (609) 466-0641 - [email protected]. Back Roads Page 8 Thanks to our supporters who have joined a growing community who support the Sourlands and the work of the Sourland Planning Council. The following people pledged or renewed their support in 2005. Peter S. Mosca & Family Helen and Frank Dauster Peter & Nancy Harisiades David R. Mueller Family Richard and Raye Scott Marvin Mandelbaum & Jim Chris and Linda Davis Jean Harrington Elise & Tom Murray Ingrid Seadler Luce Eugene and Nancy DeNagel Robert & Stephanie Harris Neshanic Garden Club Tom & Diane Seessel Ann Carter & John Shimko Emmaline & Maurice Dessel Jessie Havens Marion & Bernard Newton Norma Voorhees Sheard Gregory Nagy & Patricia Lange Carolyn Dixon George and Tamara Hawkins Horatio & Beth Nichols Harold Shute Lawrence Koplik & Sarah Kristin du Fosse Peter and Kathleen Herrington Nelson Obus & Family A. Barrett Smith Roberts Lynn & Thomas Ebeling Frank & Joyce Homan Toni Palter Richard & Charlotte Smith Christine M. Lewandoski & Mary Schmidt & Elizabeth Connie & James Hughes Anthony & Susan Parisi Ted Stiles Steven D. Davison Thompson Blaine & Juanita Hummel Carol Kleis & Rex Parker Dorothy Stratford Lawrence A. Hegarty & Viviane Amy S. Greene Environmental John McGahren & Jennifer Gail & Vincent Patullo Chris & Jim Sturm Guay Consultants, Inc. Bryson R. William Pauley Hannah Bonsey Suthers Douglas & Crista Adamson John Fedors, Jr. & Family Maura Coughlin and Mark Kem & Svetlana Phillips Martha L. Stocking & Leonard Carolyn O. Auerbach Marian H. Fenwick Kelly Karl & Sue Posselt Swanson Frank Banisch Larry & Abby Frantz c/o David & Karen Lawrence Frances L. Preston Patricia & Ray Sziber William Barton Hopewell Frame Shop Robert Lee Wayne and Karen Ranbom Richard & Dorothy Thayer Mehmet A. Basatemur Robyn & George Friedlander Tamara & Greg Lee Dan Rapaport Christopher and Evan Thomas Kees & Margaret Bol Mary Furlong Jane & Dave Leonard Marilyn Rautio Elizabeth Westergaard & Andrea Bonette Barbara & Eugene Gaffney Susan Lockhart R. David and Mary Beth Thomas Kilbourne Sean & Deirdre Buckley Elizabeth & Dick Ginman Andrew Love Reynolds Lise Thompson Brander Elizabeth and John Bussard Frank & Sharon Gleason Harry and Marie Loveless N.J. Rieur Chester and Catherine Urbanski James J. Caggiano Noel H. & Frances A. Goeke Charles and Sharon Magee Anthony & Glorianne Robbi Peg Van Patton John Cantilli Dr. David Goldberg Family Priscilla Maren Doug & Mary Rooney Jeffrey D. Vernam Paul & Tracy Carluccio Jay Gompper Mary-Rose Markowitz Melissa & Jeff Salton Margery & Herman Ward Kathleen Cirioli & Robert Barbara Goodrich Joan McGee J.Robert Santowasso Mary Warshefski Cibulskis Richard Greene Bruce R. & Linda B. Meier Mr. & Mrs. Mark Scarano Douglas and Pat Wengel Cindy & Charles Clark Diane & Edgar Griffith Bob Tomaselli and Michael Sandy Brown & Steve Schaeffer Barbara & Peter Westergaard Curt & Paula Cole Seth and Emmanuella Grossman Dawson Charles & Bernice Schauer Louise and Cliff Wilson Phil S. Collins David & Mary Hackler James & Patricia Miller Robert F. Schaul Daniel & Mary Jane Woodward Peter and Karen Cooper Anna Marie & Mike Hadam Michelle Mistretta Robert and Lisa Schober Brewster & Marian Young Peter & Susan Costas Robert P. Hagenhofer Benjamin and Mary Lincoln Rounds and Heidi A. Kenneth M. Young Bradley Currey, Jr. Jerry Haimowitz Muckenhoupt Schoenfeld Marie Zakaluk

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