Open Space Element Readington Township Master Plan Hunterdon County, NJ Adopted | February 13, 2018 Clarke Caton Hintz | 100 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 Open Space Element Readington Township Master Plan Hunterdon County, NJ Adopted February 13, 2018 Planning Board Ronald P. Monaco, Chair John Albanese, Vice-Chair M. Elizabeth Duffy, Township Committee Betty Ann Fort, Township Committee Mayor’s Designee Julia C. Allen Jerry Cook Cheryl Filler Alan Harwick Christopher John Open Space Advisory Board Juergen Huelsebusch, Chairman Julia Allen, Vice Chair John Klotz Sandy Madon Robert Becker Neil Hendrickson Chris John Jay Kelly Jonathan Heller Anne Owen Michael Sullivan, ASLA, AICP Township Planner Clarke Caton Hintz Prepared By: Architecture Planning Landscape Architecture Michael F. Sullivan, ASLA, AICP New Jersey Professional Planning License No. 5153 100 Barrack Street Trenton NJ 08608 Tel: 609 883 8383 Fax: 609 883 4044 Emily R. Goldman, PP, AICP New Jersey Professional Planning License No. 6088 A signed and sealed copy is on file with the Planning Board office. Clarke Caton Hintz | 100 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 READINGTON TOWNSHIP TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 1 HISTORY OF OPEN SPACE AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION IN READINGTON ..................................................4 EVOLUTION OF READINGTON’S OPEN SPACE STRATEGY ............................................................................. 13 1979 Open Space Master Plan .............................................................................................................. 13 1981 Master Plan.................................................................................................................................... 13 1990 Master Plan ................................................................................................................................... 14 Greenways Plan of 1995 ......................................................................................................................... 14 1998 Master Plan ................................................................................................................................... 15 Environmental Resource Inventory, April 2001 .................................................................................... 15 Characteristic Flora and Fauna, April 2001........................................................................................... 16 Critical Habitats of Readington Township, April 2001 ......................................................................... 17 2001 Master Plan Amendment ............................................................................................................. 17 2009 Master Plan .................................................................................................................................. 18 GOALS, VISION AND POLICIES ................................................................................................................... 19 PRESERVATION PRIORITIES ....................................................................................................................... 20 Cushetunk and Round Mountain ......................................................................................................... 20 Readington Village Historic Area .......................................................................................................... 24 Rockaway/Lamington River Watershed Area ........................................................................................ 25 Holland Brook, Chambers Brook and Pleasant Run Stream Corridors ............................................... 27 South Branch of the Raritan .................................................................................................................. 28 The Village of Stanton .......................................................................................................................... 29 IMPLEMENTATION .................................................................................................................................... 30 Prospective Open Space ....................................................................................................................... 30 Open Space Preservation Mechanisms ................................................................................................ 34 POLICY GUIDANCE BEYOND READINGTON ................................................................................................. 38 New Jersey’s Open Space and Environmental Policies ........................................................................ 38 Hunterdon County Open Space Preservation Policies........................................................................ 49 Relevant Literature ................................................................................................................................. 54 Appendices Appendix A: Open Space Inventory Appendix B: Farmland Preservation Inventory Appendix C: Green Trust Planning Inventive Project Grant Status Appendix D: Status of Green Trust Loans, 2017 Appendix E: 2009 Master Plan Figures 2017 Open Space Plan Element | i Readington Township Introduction This open space plan replaces the 2001 Parks Recreation and Open Space Plan Element, and amends the 1990 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan Element of the Master Plan. This update continues to be inspired by the 1995 Greenways Plan and Environmental Commission documents produced in 2001, namely the Readington Township Environmental Resource Inventory and its amended reports; the Water Quality Report and those entitled Critical Habitats and Flora and Fauna, as well as the State of New Jersey’s Landscape Project. These documents contain inventory, analyses and recommendations relating to open space and natural resources, providing direction for land use policies, and emphasizing the relationship between open space preservation and conservation objectives. Open Space Plans based on furthering these objectives have targeted specific geographic areas and tracts for open space preservation. Over these last several decades, the Township Committee has been actively working to implement these recommendations, including both acquisition and, more recently, the expansion of passive recreational opportunities. Fortunately, because of the slow pace of development over the last 16 years, natural resources existing in 2001 have not been appreciatively disturbed, so much open land still remains in Readington that if preserved would help the Township meet its conservation objectives. Readington Township has long recognized that the preservation of open spaces provides essential benefits to its residents. Conservation of appropriate open spaces protects Readington’s rural character and serves as an alternative to suburban sprawl. It helps to buffer the Township’s historical, agricultural and environmental resources. It serves to protect the Township’s water quality, including that of its streams and rivers and the ground water wells that residents depend on for their drinking water. Preservation of open spaces is vital to the protection of critical wildlife habitat, native plant species, mature woodlands, fertile farmlands, riparian areas and beautiful viewsheds. The preservation of Readington’s open spaces provides recreational opportunities and enhances the Township’s enviable quality of life. An inventory of preserved open space and recreational lands is provided in Appendix A. The “Existing Open Space” figure illustrates the geographic location of the existing preserved open space and recreational lands within Readington. This Master Plan amendment contains an updated history of open space preservation efforts thus far and an updated inventory of open space and recreational lands. Recognizing that farmland is also a component of an open space network, an updated 2018 Open Space Plan Element | 1 Readington Township inventory of preserved farmland is included. The inventory is followed by a series of open space preservation goals. Finally, specific parcels are identified for preservation in order to meet these goals. The Open Space Plan includes the following components: History of Open Space and Farmland Preservation in Readington Evolution of Readington’s Open Space Strategy Goals, Vision and Policies Preservation Priorities Implementation Policy Guidance Beyond Readington Public Process Pursuant to the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law, the Planning Board is responsible for the creation and adoption of the Master Plan, of which the Open Space Plan is a component. In preparing this Open Space Plan, the Planning Board relied on an advisory committee that was composed of members drawn from key boards and committees within Readington Township, including: Township Committee (governing body) Planning Board Open Space Advisory Committee Farmland Preservation Committee Historic Preservation Commission This advisory committee served as a pivot point for collection and dissemination of information related to the development of the Open Space Plan, among their respective committees. Furthermore, this committee generated substantial content, including data, imagery, policy development and descriptions that, ultimately, was woven together in this 2018 Open Space Plan. The advisory committee held five (5) meetings, open to the public,