Weymouth Township Recreational and Open Space Plan
Prepared by Michael A. Hogan
and the
Environmental Commission
2006
Table of Contents
Page
Executive Summary
1
Goals and Policies
2
Inventory 3
Needs Analysis
6
Resource Assessment
9
Action Plan
11
Maps
Open Space Acquisition and State Open Space
Wetlands and
Township Open Space Parcels and Zoning/Smart Growth
Part One. Executive
Summary:
The Federal Wild and
Most of
Route 50 has public water. The Cohansey aquifer is an unconfined
aquifer that is susceptible to contamination. Preserving
open space to protect
the critical recharge areas, such as uplands forest and watershed divides, will
ensure the township’s
future water resources and is an important priority.
The purpose of the
Weymouth Township Open Space and Recreation Plan is to establish a planning
document that will serve as a guide for providing the open space and
recreational needs of its citizens. As
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The plan will propose specific goals and polices and will
identify recreational and open space areas that should be acquired or preserved
over the next 5 years. The plan will propose specific areas for the New Jersey
Pinelands comprehensive management designated “recreational facility, low
intensive” and “recreational facility, intensive” uses. The plan will also
designate historic farm properties for possible acquisition.
It is anticipated that
with additional funding sources, including the
This document was prepared with participation of the
Weymouth Township Planning and Zoning Boards and the Weymouth Township
Environmental Commission. The plan
was also reviewed by the National Park Service, the Great Egg Harbor Watershed
Association and the Great Egg Harbor River Council.
Part 2. Goals
and Policies:
The Weymouth Township Open Space and Recreational Plan
recommends the following actions be taken by the Weymouth Township Committee:
1. Set priorities based on availability and competition for
lands for:
- Recreational
uses “intensive” such as ball fields and play grounds.
- Recreational
uses “low intensity” such as walking, biking and bridle trails.
- Historic
and cultural resources
- Preservation
of environmentally sensitive lands including endangered and threatened
species habitat.
- Continuity
to lands presently owned and protected by state agencies and non-profit
preservation organizations.
2. Purchase lands that are experiencing development
pressures.
3. Purchase lands to develop a living history farm.
4. Purchase lands that allow additional public access to
the South and Great
5. Purchase lands that provide a link between existing
parks and lands
owned
by State and non-profit agencies.
6. Work with the
to
develop a long range funding strategy.
7. Seek funding to conduct a Township-wide natural resource
inventory.
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Part 3. Inventory:
Acres
State Natural Lands Trust
110
State Fish and Wildlife Management Areas
704
MUA Property
364
Total Open space
1178
The New Jersey Department of Transportation owns 185 acres
along the railroad tracks and Route 557.
The 110 acre New Jersey Natural Lands Trust property is
located on the tidal portion of the
The State owns the 596 acre Great Egg Harbor Wildlife
Management Area located on the peninsula between the
In addition to the listed recreational facilities
Block and
New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection Owned
Block
120
1
1900 River Front
429.00
120
10.2
1800 River Front
22.00
120
1.03
1700
120
1.04
2000 River Front
60.00
120
2
2100 River Front
110.00
121
1
1700 River Front
74.55
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New Jersey
Department of Transportation Owned
Block
Block
10
34.02
1402A 12th Ave
1.70
13
10
1411 12t'h Ave
5.00
17
22.01
80A Tuckahoe Rd
1.00
35
4.01
1003A 11th Ave
1.25
35
4.02
1003B 11th Ave
1.25
35
17.02
1004A
58
9
508A
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86
1
1004 Blvd. Rt.50
64.50
86.01
91
1
1001 Blvd. Rt. 50
0 .25
101
1
1201 Madden Ave
2.02
112
2
1503 Blvd. Rt. 50
0.13
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Part 4. Needs
Analysis:
The Weymouth Township Environmental Commission conducted a recreational needs survey to determine the interests and
needs of township residents. A survey form was mailed to every household in the township newspaper and provided at
Weymouth Township events including the annual Wienie
Roast, Forth of July Fireworks, and Christmas party.
Open Space
/Recreation Questionnaire
(43 responses as
of
Current Facilities adequate
Yes No
14
27
Type of
Recreation Requested
Preference
Total #
#1
#2 #3
Requests
Trails
Walking Trails
12
8
7
27
Bike Trail 8
9
2
19
Horse Trails
4
1
1
6
52
Passive Recreation
Park (open space)
4
3
3
10
Picnic Area
1
1
Swings, slides, etc.
1
1
3
5
16
Sports Facilities
Sports Fields
4
3
2
9
Golf course, par 3 etc.
2
2
Tennis court
2
1
3
14
Other suggestions:
Need something for seniors/adults
5
Ice Skating
2
Horseshoe pits
Different sports-basket ball, football, hockey
Fishing access to Rivers
Skateboarding
ATV or dirt bike area
Concerts
Camping
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Existing Township
Recreation Facilities
1 Youth ball/soccer field
1 Advanced
Playground
The
1 Youth ball/soccer field
1 Advanced Playground
Belcoville Area
1 Youth ball/soccer field
The Belcoville Area contains an undersized youth ball
field. This site is occasionally used by the West Atlantic County Youth League
but has inadequate parking. There are 8 paved parking spaces around the
Oaks of
1 Pool
1 Shuffleboard
The Oaks of Weymouth is a 55+ retirement community
with approximately 500 residents. Facilities include a large pool, tennis
courts, shuffle board and bocce ball areas. The facilities are in good
condition, are used only by its residents and maintained by the Oaks of
Weymouth.
-7-
Population
Statistics for
1930 1940
1950 1960
1970 1980
1990 2000
Population
685 675
750 788
998 1260
1957 2257
Population
56
55
61
65
82 103
160 185
Density
Numbers
-10
75
38 210
262 697
300
Change
% Change
-1% 11%
5% 27%
26% 55%
15%
Center for
Regional & Business Research
Population
Projects, 2010-2020
Weymouth
Township 2010
Estimate
2020 Estimate
Population
2,451
2,652
Population
204
221
Density
Numbers +194
+101
Change
Percent
Growth From 2000-2010 8.6%
Percent
Growth From 2010-2020 8.2%
Future Municipal and Recreational Needs
In the long term,
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The West Atlantic County Youth League is anticipating
the long term need for more facilities, including more soccer fields and a 90
foot baseball diamond. Because of these needs and little possibility of
expansion at the existing ball fields,
The township anticipates the need for passive
recreation including walking, bike, and horse trails and picnic area as
indicated in the recreational survey. Such an area would be in a PFA zoned
section of
Part 5. Resource
Assessment:
Recreational facilities such as baseball and soccer fields
are designated by the New Jersey Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan as
recreational facility, “intensive” use and are not permitted in
Designated “intensive use” properties for possible
acquisition,
Block
1. Petes Store
11
12.01
2. Both sides of
3.
and Maple.
There are large areas in
Weymouth Township that are designated by the New Jersey Pinelands Comprehensive
Management Plan as Pinelands Forest Area These
areas permits such low intensity uses as hiking, hunting, trapping, fishing,
canoeing, nature study, orienteering, horseback riding, and bicycling.
Designated “low intensive use” properties for possible
acquisition,
1.
areas along the
River and
2. Appropriate Pinelands
designated as flood prone by
Township Flood Management plan.
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Block Lot
3. Robert Stewart Farm
33
8
4. Louis Klimek Farm
7
27
Appendix
- Recreation Uses in the Pinelands
The Pinelands
Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) divides recreational uses (or facilities)
into two types: "intensive" and "low intensive". The
following are the CMP's definitions of those uses:
"Recreational
facility, intensive" means any recreational facility which does not satisfy
the definition of low intensive recreational facility including but not limited
to golf courses, marinas, amusement parks, hotels, and motels.
"Recreational
facility, low intensive" means a facility or area which complies with the
standards in N.J.A.C. 7:50-5, Part HI, utilizes and depends on the natural
environment of the Pinelands and requires no significant modifications of that
environment other than to provide access, and which has an insignificant impact
on surrounding uses or on the environmental integrity of the area. It permits
such low intensity uses as hiking, hunting, trapping, fishing, canoeing, nature
study, orienteering, horseback riding, and bicycling.
Although not
explicitly listed, typical municipal recreational uses, such as ballfields,
playgrounds, and indoor facilities are "intensive" uses. The CMP also
requires municipal recreation management plans and implementing land use
ordinances to meet certain criteria. These CMP criteria (see attached, N.J.A.C.
Each
management area also permits a degree of recreational uses. The following
standards are also taken from the CMP:
Forest
Area (FD Zones') - N.J.A.C.
1.
Low intensity recreational uses, provided that:
i.
The parcel proposed for low intensity recreational use has an area of at
least 50 acres;
ii.
The recreational use does not involve the use of motorized vehicles
except for necessary transportation;
iii.
Access to bodies of water is limited to no more than 15 linear feet of
frontage per 1,000 feet of water body frontage;
iv. Clearing of vegetation, including ground cover and soil disturbance, does not exceed five percent of the parcel; and
v. No more than one percent of the parcel will be covered with impermeable surfaces.
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2.
Campgrounds, not to exceed one campsite per gross acre, provided that the
campsites may be clustered at a net density not to exceed 10 campsites per acre.
Agricultural
Production Area (AG zones') - N.J.A.C.
1.
Low intensity recreational uses, provided that:
i. The parcel proposed for low intensity recreational use has an area of at least 50 acres;
ii.
The recreational use does not involve the use of motorized vehicles
except for necessary transportation;
iii.
Access to bodies of water is limited to no more than 15 linear feet of
frontage per 1,000 feet of water body frontage;
iv.
Clearing of vegetation, including ground cover and soil disturbance, does
not exceed five percent of the parcel.
Part 6. Action Plan:
The planning process has identified a list of potential
properties to accomplish the Open Space and Recreational Plans goals and
objectives.
3 Years:
1. Upgrade ball field and expand parking facilities at Belcoville site, install new
playground equipment in playground area..
2.
Acquire property for passive recreational uses such as walking, biking
and bridle trails and a picnic area.
5 years:
3.
Acquire a township farm site for historic preservation and passive
recreation.
4.
Acquire additional property for ball fields to meet future WACYL
growth needs.
5.
Acquire properties for wellhead and endangered species protection.
Long Term:
In the long term future, Weymouth Township’s ball field recreation area will be relocated to a 45 acre township owned parcel located at Block 20 Lots 1,1.01 and 2 This much larger site will easily meet Weymouth Townships future recreational needs.
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To meet future recreational and open space needs
The Weymouth Township Environmental Commission has been
promoting public education about the importance of open space and the
recreational needs of its residents. It has completed a number of projects
including:
- With
NJ DEP funding, completed a photographic Inventory of the Great Egg Harbor
River Watershed in
- With
NJ DEP funding, produced a Watershed slide presentation on CD Rom that was
distributed in
- With
National Park Service funding completed a Natural Resource Inventory of the
- Arranged
public meetings and speakers for successful open space campaign.
- With
NJ DEP funding produced a Township Web site (www.weymouthnj.org)
with a large amount of environmental and open space information and links.
- With
NJ DEP funding, purchased ARCVIEW 8 GIS software, a computer workstation,
and GIS training.
Part 8. Additional
Parcel Data Requirements:
A. Existing preserved open space documented in the plans ROSI delineated at the lot
and block level
PFA 25 Acre Zone:
Block l,
PFA 10 Acre Zone:
Block 35, Lots 7.01,15, 16, 17, 17.01&17.02 =12.95 Acs.
Block 58,
PFA 20 Acre Zone:
Block 39,
Block 52,
Block 62,
Block 67, Lots 5,6 & 9 = 15 Acs.
Block 69,
Block 71
Block 73, Lots 1,3,6,8,9,10,&12=35.0 Acs.
Block 74, Lots 2,3&5 =15.0
-12-
Block 75, Lots 8 &12 = 10.0 Acs.
Block 76,
Block 80,
Total Acs. =130.22
Part 9. Public
Participation:
The Open Space plan was developed with input from the Weymouth Township Planning and Zoning boards and Environmental Commission. Input was also obtained from the Weymouth Township Civic Association, the Western Atlantic County Youth League, the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, the Great Egg Harbor River Council, and the National Parks Service. Public hearings were held on August 31 and on November 2. A special Weymouth Township Committee meeting regarding Open Space was held on September 23 and was attended by representatives of the Atlantic County Open Space Program, New Jersey Green Acres Program and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. Issues regarding the Open Space and the Recreational Master Plan Element and funding resources were discussed at length.
The plan was
published on the
Part 10. Planning
Consistency:
The Weymouth Township Planning Board adopted the Open Space
and Recreational Plan and certified consistency with the conservation and
recreation elements of the local master plan at the 11.08.05 Planning Board
meeting.
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Maps
Click on map
fro larger version. Maps are large and
may take a few minutes to download.
Open Space Acquisition Map
Wetlands and Forest Map
Weymouth Open Space and Zoning