Pinelands Municipal Council Minutes
Click here to download complete 2010 Pinelands Municipal Council minutes
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
January 31, 2011
Corbin City, NJ
Pinelands Commission Comments
Nancy Wittenberg Reported
Solar rules have been enacted.
All 15 commission vacancies have been full.
Southern pine beetle numbers have dropped significantly, NJDEP is no longer cutting down. infesting trees. 7,000 acres were affected.
PLC will begin 5 year review of Comprehensive Management Plan.
Approved ordinances for Waterford Township for commercial development area.
Gave update on municipalities and cluster ordinances.
PLC will reconvene its Forestry Advisory Committee to examine issues such as the Southern pine beetle.
Gave update on NJDEP water quality management planning.
PMC round Table
Members discussed current issues and speakers/topics for upcoming meetings
Respectfully, submitted
Michael Hogan
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
Jan. 31, 2010
Woodbine, NJ
Pinelands Commission Comments Chuck Horner
*PLC is working with NJDEP on southern pine beetle issues/ harvesting of trees to control beetles.
*PLC is working with NJDEP on waste water issues.
*New PLC solar panel rules have been adopted and will become effective in Jan.
*PLC will begin 5 year review of Comprehensive Management Plan
*Approved ordinances for Medford for permitting process for change of use applications for Medford town center area.
*Processing applications for Fire Road/Mill Road intersection work.
Guest Speaker
Chairman Chiarello introduced new PLC chairman Mark Lohbauer. Mark discussed his background, current PLC projects and what he would like to accomplish as chairman.
Respectfully, submitted
Michael Hogan
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
September 27 2011
Estell Manor, NJ
Pinelands Commission Comments, Larry Ligget
* New solar facilities rules will pass this Oct. and go into effect thereafter.
* Commission has 14 members filled and a new chair.
* PLC is investigating more types of septic systems.
* PLC may soon approve new landfill closing systems including Estell Manors.
* PLC is working on new cell tower location plans.
Guest Speaker Mayor Joe Venezia and attorney Thomas Bullock
Mayor Venezia and Thomas Bullock gave an in depth presentation about using Pinelands Development Credits for preserving certain forest areas in the Pinelands, outside to the designated conservation area. Larry Ligget gave a history of the Pinelands Development Credit program and reasons that this may not work in forest areas or not be approved by NJ Gov. Larry also reviewed the impending mandatory PLC cluster ordinance process.
Respectfully , submitted
Michael Hogan
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
July 26 2011
Dorothy, NJ
Pinelands Commission Comments, Nancy Wittenberg
* Solar facilities rules, PLC is responding to comments, will move on rules in fall.
* 3 new commissioners have been sworn it, 2 more vacancies to be filled.
* There will be new public comment procedures.
Guest Speaker Ms. Lynn Fleming NJDEP Department of Foresty
Ms. Fleming gave an overview of the Southern Pine Beetle in NJ including:
* History of the Southern Pine Beetle in South Jersey.
* Life cycle of the Southern Pine Beetle.
* Damage it has caused in New Jersey other states.
* NJDEP effort to control its spread.
* What municipalities and landowners can do.
* NJDEP information on the Southern Pine Beetle www.southernpinebeetle.nj.gov
Respectfully , submitted
Michael Hogan
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
Jan. 31, 2010
Woodbine, NJ
Pinelands Commission Comments
Chairman Chiarello introduced new PLC Executive Director Nancy Wittenberg
PLC is working on solar facilities regulations to resolve differences with recent
state legislation introduced by Sen. Whalen.
Model cluster ordinances should be sent out soon, PLC will provide municipalities
funds for notification, code book updates, planning and engineering costs.
The Pinelands Short course will be at Burlington County College on March 26th.
Guest Speaker
Jaclyn Rhoads/Pinelands Preservation Alliance gave an update on ATV/ illegal off road vehicle issues in the Pinelands and PPA's 12 point plan to deal with these problems.
Lt. Carmel Capoferri of the NJ State Park Police gave an overview of the Park Polices recent efforts to control illegal off road vehicle activities in Wharton State Forest.
Michael Hogan gave a Power Point presentation of the illegal off road vehicle activities and damage to wetlands in Wharton State Forest.
Pinelands Municipal Council
Garden State Preservation Trust PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) Program for rural Pinelands Municipalities will be phased out entirely this year.
State may provide some transitional aid to Pinelands Municipalities for 1 year.
Washington Twp., Burlington County, may close school district.
Respectfully, submitted
Michael Hogan
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
November 29, 2010
Dorothy, NJ
Pinelands Commission Comments
* John Stokes will retire at the end of the year. Search for his replace is almost complete.
* Is working on rules to develop more solar facilities in the Pinelands.
* Is working on amendment to wireless communications rules for locations of
communication towers, to minimize the number of towers in the Pinelands.
* Model cluster ordinances should be sent out soon, PLC will provide municipalities
funds for notification, code book updates, planning and engineering costs.
Guest Speaker
Barry Brady, Michael Hogan and Mayor Gary Giberson gave an overview of Pine Barrens Scenic Byway Project and the formation of the Pine Barrens Byway Association.
Pinelands Municipal Council
The Pinelands Municipal Council approved a resolution regarding the continued funding of the Garden State Preservation Trust PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) Program for rural Pinelands Municipalities with state owned property.
The Pinelands Municipal Council approved a resolution regarding their support for the Pine Barrens Byway Association.
Respectfully , submitted
Michael Hogan
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
September 29, 2010
Tabernacle, NJ
Pinelands Commission Comments
* John Stokes will retire at the end of the year.
* Is looking how to broaden solar opportunities in the Pinelands.
* Will clarify where large solar facilities can go, including farms, landfills, mining
sites.
* Model cluster ordinances should be sent out soon, PLC will provide municipalities
funds for notification, code book updates, planning and engineering costs.
* Has approved at 300,000 square foot expansion at Hamilton Mall.
* Will review permits for Jeep and Enduro events in the Pinelands.
* Working on streamlining permitting process.
* Resolved Hammonton's wastewater plant issues.
Guest Speaker
Laura Wallick- NJ Economic Development Authority, Regional Director.
Ms. Wallick gave an overview of the NJ Economic Development Authority's Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grants and other Available Resources.
* I left the hand out from the presentation with Bonnie Yearlsey
Respectfully , submitted
Michael Hogan
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
July 27, 2010
Estell Manor, NJ
Pinelands Commission Comments
John Stokes - Due to financial constraints the PC has again reduced staff and is down 33% from two years ago. They are exploring initiatives to reduce their workload through giving municipalities more responsibility. Also, Ed McLynchy has replaced Mr. Tomasello as a commissioner.
Larry Liggett - Solar projects as a primary use were discussed and handouts provided. The PC is developing principals for a municipal option, permitting of accessory uses, expansion of currently permitted principal/conditional uses, and addressing management of off-site impact.
Chuck Horner - A memorandum was distributed describing simplification of the approval process for modest public development activities as well a procedure to address last minute questions which delay public development applications (attached). These procedures are now being finalized. The PC website will include incoming applications; comments will be taken only after the application is near completion, with no comments allowed after 18 days notice.
ATV/4 Wheeler Destruction – After seeing photos submitted by Mike Hogan, John Stokes alerted the State Dept. of Forestry and the DEP enforcement division. He expects follow up by the DEP.
Guest Speakers
Cindy Randazzo – Ms. Randazzo is DEP Director of Local Government Assistance. Her initiative is to streamline laws/regulations, and she is asking input from pinelands municipalities. She will assist municipalities with applications which have been lost or slow to proceed. She was interested in helping with ATV enforcement. Mayor Pikolycky commented that she has been very helpful to Woodbine.
Prof. George Zimmermann, Stockton – Mr. Zimmermann talked about ecological forest management and why it is important to the health of our forests and its inhabitants, both wildlife and human. A memorandum was distributed describing simplification of the approval process for modest public development activities as well a procedure to address last minute questions which delay public development applications (attached).
Submitted by Jill Baxter
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
May 26, 2010
Woodbine, NJ
Topics discussed:
Doug Shattuck of New Jersey Clean Energy Program and representatives of South Jersey Energy Services
Gave an overview of the Direct Install and Energy Audit programs for municipalities and local governments. The program provides low cost energy audits and pays up to 80% of the cost of upgrades recommended by the audits.
Pinelands Commission/John Stokes
1 NJ Pinelands Commission adopted high tech septic system management rules, will work with
municipalities to create ordinances to inspect these high tech systems
2 NJ Pinelands Commission is testing other high tech septic systems for future use in the
Pinelands regulated area.
3 Rules for other high tech septic systems may be ready by the end of the summer.
4 NJ Pinelands Commission is giving municipalities longer time periods for adoption of
ordinances and will consolidate time frames of multiple ordinances.
5 NJ Pinelands Commission is developing rules for expanding solar power in the Pinelands
including solar panels in appropriate places in zoned forest areas.
6 John discussed the NJ Pinelands Commission work with counties to protect rare native plants
that grow along road sides.
Next meeting July 27th Estell Manor 7:30
Submitted by Michael Hogan
Minutes
Pinelands Municipal Council Meeting
March 15, 2010
Buena Vista Twp, NJ
Topics discussed:
Secretary’s Report
Past Executive Committee members were reelected to their prior positions
Chairperson: Mayor Chuck Chiarello Re-elected
Vice Chairperson: Mayor William Pikolycky Re-elected
Secretary: Designee Anthony Mazzella Re-elected
Treasurer: Mayor Joseph Kuehner Re-elected
At-large Member of the
Executive Committee: Mayor Richard Franzen Re-elected
Speaker: Brian Kuhn, Aeronautica Windpower
Gave an overview of his company and their mid-scale wind turbines, all manufactured in the United States. Discussed community wind projects, benefits of mid scale turbines, the company’s different markets for their products, zoning and other issues involved with installing wind turbines, Southern NJ wind resources, possible funding sources, long term costs and benefits of wind turbines and how Aeronautica will work with communities interested in wind turbines.
Web site http://aeronauticawind.com/aw/index.html
Pinelands Commission/Chuck Horner
- More applications for solar generating facilities including:
St Augustine School- 5 acre array
SJ Gas-facilty in Hamilton Twp.
Ocean Twp.-facility on close landfill
- Maintenance plans for transmission line right of ways approved.
- Ancora waste water plant is failing and will connect to public sewage system.
- Discussion with Woodbine regarding ethanol fuel plant at Woodbine Landfill site.
- PLC working with Hammonton regarding their treatment plant and possible expansion for anticipated growth.
- Still no PLC sample ordinance for mandatory clustering.
Sen. Van Drew and Assemblyman Albano
Gave overview of upcoming budget and possible cuts to municipalities.
Possible changes in COAH laws, municipalities without public water and sewage will be exempt from COAH requirements.
Next meeting May 26 Woodbine 7:30
Submitted by Michael Hogan