A Succession of Pinelands Protectors James Florio Ends Accomplished Term As Pinelands Chairman, Betty Wilson Selected to Lead As Chairperson
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ThePINELANDER NEWSLETTER OF THE NEW JERSEY PINELANDS COMMISSION/ SUMMER 2005 A Succession of Pinelands Protectors James Florio ends accomplished term as Pinelands Chairman, Betty Wilson selected to lead as Chairperson ormer Gov. James J. Florio can project is being led by the Pinelands look back on the past three years Commission, in partnership with Fas Chairman of the Pinelands Rutgers University, the U.S. Commission with a strong sense of Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish & pride and accomplishment. Wildlife Service and the New Jersey Florio, who stepped down at the end Department of Environmental of his term, can also look ahead with Protection. confidence in the future of the Under Florio's leadership, the $13 Commission and its new leader. million Pinelands Conservation Fund On June 9, Acting Gov. Richard J. was established. The fund provides Codey appointed Betty Wilson as the money that will be used to protect new chairperson of the 15-member James J. Florio Betty Wilson important natural, cultural, historic and Pinelands Commission and nominated agricultural resources through the pur- her for a second term on the Commission. chase of land and conservation easements. Affairs for the New Jersey Department of “The Pinelands Commission is in excellent The fund also will sustain critical research Human Services from 1990-1993. hands,” said Florio, who has known Betty and community planning efforts for years to Wilson, a founding member of the Wilson for many years from their time in the come. Pinelands Preservation Alliance, said she is New Jersey Legislature and on the Also during Florio's tenure, a task force honored to have the opportunity to continue Pinelands Commission. consisting of non-governmental organiza- Florio’s work and strong leadership. Wilson, a Burlington County resident who tions as well as state, county and municipal Florio, who was appointed as chairman by was appointed to the Commission in 2002, officials began evaluating growth projec- then-Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2002, brings a wealth of experience to the posi- tions in Southern New Jersey for the first leaves behind a strong legacy as a pioneer tion. time in 25 years in an effort to determine and proponent of Pinelands protection. A summa cum laude graduate of Jersey how to plan for future development in the As a U.S. Congressman, Florio sponsored City State College (now Jersey City Pinelands. legislation in 1977 that established the University), Wilson served in the New Florio's term also was marked by ground- Pinelands National Reserve. Jersey General Assembly from 1974-1975. breaking, sub-regional conservation efforts During his term as the Commission’s She also served as the Assistant devised to take a closer look at critical areas Chairman, Florio led the development of a Commissioner of the New Jersey of the Pinelands. five-year strategic plan to advance perma- Department of Environmental Protection The Pinelands Commission completed two nent land protection and community devel- (DEP) in 1976-1977 before becoming the community planning projects for growth opment in the Pinelands. Five strategies and DEP's Deputy Commissioner. During that areas in Hamilton and Winslow townships eight initiatives were set forth for land pro- time, she oversaw the agency’s natural during Florio's term. A third project, this tection, and seven strategies and 11 initia- resource management, Pinelands policy and time in Egg Harbor Township, has begun. tives were devised for community develop- review process, among other things. Also under Florio's leadership, the ment. Wilson also was the Associate Director of Commission instituted a project aimed at Also during his term, one of the most com- Recreation Programs for the U.S. developing a systematic way for govern- prehensive water resource projects in New Department of Interior in 1980, the Deputy ment to ensure that septic systems are prop- Jersey’s history was launched to determine Commissioner of the New Jersey erly maintained and managed over the long how Southern New Jersey’s water supply Department of Labor and Industry in 1981 term. and Assistant Commissioner for Public needs can be met without impacting the Pinelands. The 6-year, $5.5 million The PINELANDER, SUMMER 2005 PAGE 2 Commission Approves Plan for $13 Million Conservation Fund The New Jersey Pinelands Commission according to John C. Stokes, the Executive mission right-of-way maintenance plan has approved a plan to direct the use and Director of the Pinelands Commission. project, also set forth in the BPU agree- management of the new Pinelands "We invited public input on the proposal ment. This project is developing a man- Conservation Fund. and held a public forum in January,” agement approach to maintain early suc- The Fund was recently created as part of Stokes said. “As a result, the Commission cessional habitats along electric rights-of- an agreement with the New Jersey Board received recommendations from 18 public way within the Pinelands while maintain- of Public Utilities (BPU) to permit the con- and non-profit organizations." ing transmission safety and reliability. struction and upgrade of an electric trans- The objectives of the permanent land The third component of the plan will mission line through eastern portions of protection component will be to protect support ongoing community planning and the Pinelands. important natural, cultural, historic and design efforts in Pinelands municipalities. Under the agreement, the special fund agricultural resources through the purchase This will build upon the work of the Dodge was set up to "further the Pinelands protec- of land and conservation easements. Foundation-supported Pinelands tion program and ensure a greater level of Funding will be appropriated for the Excellence Program, which develops com- protection of the unique resources of the acquisition of lands that are recommended munity action plans to create livable and Pinelands Area." as part of regional or sub-regional plans sustainable communities. The utility constructing the transmission adopted by the Commission or through The Pinelands Conservation Fund plan lines, Atlantic City Electric (formerly other acquisition recommendations also sets forth policies for the investment, Conectiv), is providing $13 million to approved by the Commission. Priority management and administration of Fund establish the fund. will be given to projects that supplement monies. To date, the Commission has The Pinelands Commission approved the Pinelands Conservation Fund proceeds received $9.75 million. The remaining plan during its April meeting. with other state, federal, local or private $3.25 million is scheduled to be received The plan dedicates the funding to three funding. on or before March 13, 2006. types of projects: $6 million dollars will Funds disbursed under the conservation be allocated for permanent land protection, planning and research component must $3.5 million will go toward conservation also directly benefit the conservation of planning and research projects and $3.5 Pinelands resources, including the funding A copy of the Pinelands Conservation million will support community planning of sub-regional conservation planning Fund policy is available on the Pinelands and design initiatives. projects and applied scientific research Commission website at: The Pinelands Conservation Fund was projects. This portion of the fund will sup- (www.nj.gov/pinelands/infor/news/cons_f developed with extensive public input, port the ecologically based electric trans- und.pdf) Commission Provides Guidance to School Districts The Pinelands Commission and New can use early in their planning process, consistent sites on which to build a new Jersey Department of Education have sent which should help them avoid potential school facility. By identifying sites that are a list of regulatory guidelines to every land-use or regulatory conflicts and result likely to meet Pinelands land use and school district in the Pinelands in an effort in Pinelands-consistent projects that are development requirements, school districts to help school officials properly and more finished in a more orderly and efficient can avoid sites that are likely to raise major efficiently plan school construction proj- manner," said John C. Stokes, Executive land use or regulatory hurdles that signifi- ects. Director of the Pinelands Commission. cantly delay or hinder the process for siting The Commission recently mailed the The guidelines include details on the a school facility. guidelines to all 48 school districts located process for gaining the necessary In addition, the guidelines make note of within the Pinelands Area, which covers approvals for expansion or construction at requirements regarding public sanitary portions of seven counties in Southern existing school facilities as well as the sit- sewer systems, wetlands buffers and New Jersey. ing and construction of new school facili- stormwater management in the Pinelands, The guidelines were prepared in conjunc- ties in the Pinelands. The location of edu- as well as the special protection afforded to tion with the New Jersey Department of cational facilities in the Pinelands is gov- rare plants and animals. The Pinelands is Education. They describe how school dis- erned by the land use policies of the home to 44 threatened or endangered tricts can plan and design their school Comprehensive Management Plan. The species of animals and approximately 90 facility projects in a manner that avoids policies are implemented through munici- threatened or endangered species of plants. conflicts with the relevant zoning and pal zoning ordinances that have been In cases where a proposed site has suitable environmental policies of the Pinelands approved by the Pinelands Commission. habitat for one or more rare plants or ani- Comprehensive Management Plan, the The guidelines, for example, recommend mals, a field survey may be required to rules that govern development and land that school districts contact the Pinelands determine whether a particular project may use in the Pinelands. Commission's Land Use Office early in impact the critical habitat onsite.