WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD

WORKSHOP-APRIL 16, 2003

Pledge of Allegiance

The West Amwell Planning Board Workshop meeting of April 16, 2003 was held at the Municipal Building at 150 Lambertville Rocktown Rd., Lambertville, N.J. Chairman, Jeff Ent opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. He declared the meeting was advertised and complied with the "Open Public Meetings Act." The meeting was taped and the tape placed in the general files.

ROLL CALL ON ATTENDANCE:

VanDerVeen-here, Schapella-here, Smith-here, Meader-(arrived at 8:30 p.m.)-here, Greenwood-here, Palladino as designee for Buchsbaum-here, Bleacher-here, Hunt, Ent.

Dudbridge, Buchsbaum and Perri-absent.

Also, present: A. Mercantante, Planner, Attorney William Shurts, Hydrologist, Matt Mulhall.

Audience: Robert and Bob Fulper, Mike Rassweiler, Noelle McKay, Hal Shute.

WOODLAND CONSERVATION (Proposed)

Ron Shapella distributed a draft-hand out. He would like comments on it for the Master Plan.

(A copy is attached to these minutes).

The State of New Jersey grant application allows $2000.00 for forestry programs.

DONNA DREWS gave a slide program on WOODLAND CONSERVATION. This program is part of the Hunterdon County Planning Grant for West Amwell.

The program was background on trees and tree preservation is important to the Township and it’s

Ecosystem. Woodland is the best recharge for water.

(A copy is attached to these minutes).

Mercantante recommended conservation easements to protect the natural roadway trees.

JCP&L is being encouraged to plant grasses instead of brush hogging the power line spaces.

MATT MULHALL: Water Assessment for West Amwell

This report was submitted to the Board and Township Committee in February 2003.

(Slide Presentation) Key elements:

1. Fifty (50) percent of the current water reserves have already been allocated.

2. The only reserve, is ground water.

Robert Fulper challenged the report. Some discussion followed. No resolve.

NOELLE MCKAY gave a slide presentation on "Why Water Assessment, and How to

#1 Create a one hundred (100) foot buffer for stream corridors.

#2 Farmland incentive programs.

#3 Zoning ( priority issue)

NEXT WORKSHOP MAY 15, 2003

Chairman Ent read a letter from a Lambertville resident, Paul Jarrett, he attended the last agricultural workshop meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn at 10.50 was set forth by Shapella and seconded by VanDerVeen. Roll call: all members present signified - ayes.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine L. Park, Sec.