OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN for the Borough of Kinnelon County of Morris “Where the Water Begins” Compiled by: Morris Land Conservancy a nonprofit land trust with the Borough of Kinnelon Open Space Advisory Committee - This Page Left Intentionally Blank - OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN for the Borough of Kinnelon County of Morris “Where the Water Begins” March 2005 Compiled by: Morris Land Conservancy a nonprofit land trust with the Borough of Kinnelon Open Space Advisory Committee Kinnelon Borough Open Space and Recreation Plan Produced by: Morris Land Conservancy’s Partners for Greener Communities Team: “Partnering with Communities to Preserve Natural Treasures” David Epstein, Executive Director Laura Szwak, Assistant Director Barbara Heskins Davis, Municipal Programs Director Tricia L. Aspinwall, Planning Manager Tanya Nolte, Mapping Director Michael D. Brennan, Planning Assistant Erin Siek, Project Assistant Rebecca Marshall, Intern Tom Edmunds, Survey Analysis Copyright © 2005 All rights reserved Including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form without prior consent Acknowledgements Morris Land Conservancy would like to thank the following staff and volunteers of Kinnelon Borough and Morris County for their help in providing information, materials and guidance for the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Kinnelon Open Space Advisory Committee: Councilman Robert W. Collins, Chair Jeff Derwin Lucy Meyer Gene Orcott Carol Sventy Kevin Thompson Carol Vreeland Kinnelon Borough Council Open Space Committee: Councilman Robert W. Collins, Chair Councilman Eric Nederfield Councilman Lawrence Casha Mayor Glenn Sisco and the Kinnelon Borough Council Lucy Meyer, Historian Mary Ricker, Borough Clerk Karen Perry, Recreation Director Bob Edgar, Tax Assessor Peggy Banks, Secretary to the Planning Board and Tax Assessor Morris County Department of Planning, Development, and Technology Russ Felter, Morris County Park Commission Special thanks to Carol Sventy for inputting survey data - This Page Left Intentionally Blank - Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Community Resources 3 Natural Resources 3 Historic Resources 10 Recreation Resources 14 The Built Environment 18 The Open Space Program 21 Survey Report 26 Inventory of Outdoor Resources 31 Outdoor Needs 37 A System of Open Space 45 Preservation Partners, Tools, and Funding Sources 55 Land Preservation Recommendations 69 Action Program and Recommendations 77 References 81 Maps Natural Features Map – Borough of Kinnelon Land Use Map – Borough of Kinnelon Topographic and Watershed Boundary Map – Borough of Kinnelon Open Space – Borough of Kinnelon Greenways Map – Borough of Kinnelon Appendix Agenda and Comments from Public Hearings Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) Open Space Ordinance Register of Historic Places in Kinnelon Local News Articles and Press Releases Local Trail Maps Kinnelon Borough Fall 2004 Survey and Results Parcel Data Tables Photographs Cover Photograph: View of Pequannock River, August 4, 2004. Taken by Bob Collins. - This Page Left Intentionally Blank - Executive Summary Kinnelon Borough is uniquely situated within the Farny and Waughaw Mountains, foothills that shape the paths of four major New Jersey watersheds - Pequannock River to the north, Rockaway River to the south, Pompton River to the east, and tributaries to Split Rock Reservoir in the west. Rich in natural resources and 97% within the Highlands preservation region, Kinnelon’s landscape is primarily wooded and characterized by rocky hills. The community is a vital steward for protecting New Jersey’s drinking water supply, with four reservoirs located partially or fully within the Borough. A steady population growth since the 1960s threatens to impact the rural character of the community. A total of 16% (1,948 acres) of Kinnelon’s landscape has been preserved thus far. The open space planning process found that residents and local officials are most concerned about protecting scenic vistas and drinking water supply resources. These goals for an open space program in Kinnelon were determined in the fall 2004 through comments by residents at a public hearing and a mailed survey to every Kinnelon household. An open space preservation program can help Kinnelon retain its scenic, rural legacy. In November 2002, residents of Kinnelon supported the establishment of a local open space trust to preserve land in their town. Established at one-half cent per $100 of assessed property value, the trust was used to preserve a 34-acre addition to Pyramid Mountain county and state parklands. Trust funds can be used for the acquisition of property, development of lands acquired for recreation and conservation; preservation of historic sites and structures; and payment of debt service on indebtedness incurred by the preceding focuses. The survey found that residents support an increase of the tax up to two cents and the Borough Council responded by increasing the tax to one and one-half cents in March 2005. Public participation through the planning process demonstrated that Kinnelon residents are interested in outdoor recreation and in land preservation in their community. Many residents support the establishment of safe pathways for walking and bicycling. Such pathways can provide opportunities for residents to enjoy their parks as well as link neighborhoods and recreation facilities within the Borough. Residents identify the rural character of the community as one of the most important features for living in their town. Residents also want to protect ground and surface water resources for drinking and recreation. Preserving forest cover, ridgelines, and natural, open areas will serve to protect Kinnelon’s water resources, retain rural character and to safeguard the scenic vistas that define the community. To achieve these goals, the Plan suggests five preservation areas in the Borough: • Pequannock River Greenway – follows the Pequannock River from the Charlottesburg Reservoir and the associated tributaries to the Pequannock; • Stone House Brook Greenway – follows Stone House Brook and encompassing Lake Kinnelon and the Butler Reservoir; • Waughaw-Towaco Greenway – follows the Waughaw Mountains; • Rockaway River Greenway – follows the tributaries in Kinnelon that flow to the Rockaway and encompassing the Taylortown Reservoir; and • Split Rock Ridge – protects and overlooks the Split Rock Reservoir. The Plan also identifies possible preservation partners, most commonly used techniques in preserving land, and potential sources of funding for open space and recreation. The open space preservation program, guided by the Open Space and Recreation Plan, will prove to be a valuable tool to shape the future growth and maintain the rural integrity of the community of Kinnelon. - This Page Left Intentionally Blank - Kinnelon Borough Open Space & Recreation Plan - March 2005 2 Community Resources in the Borough of Kinnelon Rising majestically from the Farny and Waughaw Mountains, Kinnelon Borough is uniquely situated at the apex for waterways that flow in all four directions: north to the Pequannock River, south to the Rockaway River, east to the Pompton River, and west to Split Rock Reservoir. The hills and forests of Kinnelon are integral to the high quality of drinking water for both local and regional communities. Buck Mountain and Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area are wild areas home to unique geological features and habitat to a myriad of plants and wildlife. From boating on one of Kinnelon’s many lakes to playing baseball at the local playing fields, residents enjoy country living within an hour drive of New York City. The Borough of Kinnelon is located in the northeastern section of Morris County, New Jersey. The Pequannock River separates the Borough to the north from West Milford Township in Passaic County. From this northern point the Borough is then bordered by Butler and Riverdale Boroughs, Pequannock Township, and Lincoln Park Borough. Kinnelon is bordered to the south by Boonton and Montville Townships and Rockaway Township to the west. The natural, historic, recreation resources, along with local educational and community services, provide the basis for creating a system of preserved open space. A planned system of open space preservation can protect these community resources and enhance the quality of life for Kinnelon residents. Natural Resources “Kinnelon is rich in a wide variety of beautiful woods, swamps, and mountains. Much of its rugged terrain is rarely visited by man. Without a doubt, it is a paradise of beauty and animal life for those who love and respect nature” -Kinnelon: A History, 1976- A community’s natural resources provide for our drinking water, soils for a rich forest cover, spectacular scenic vistas, and critical habitat for wildlife, including threatened and endangered plant and animal species. Open space maintains the integrity, quality, and function of these natural systems upon which the community relies. Geology and Topography “These (Ramapo) Mountains, which once shaped the destiny of colonial independence, and today are prized for their beauty and serenity, are a curious mixture of the most ancient and recent rocks in the world.” -Kinnelon: A History, 1976- The majority of Kinnelon Borough is located within the New Jersey Highlands physiographic province, which is part of the Reading Prong of the New England physiographic province. The Highlands Province occupies an area of approximately 980 square miles in New Jersey, about one-eighth of the state.