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OFFICIALS CRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL VISION FOR TOWN
By Jo Ann La Russo
Toms River Township Mayor Thomas Kelaher met with members of the Township Environmental Commission to outline his vision of the commission's role in future developments in the town. Councilwoman Melanie Donohue also attended the session.
Commission members and officials said pedestrian and bike trails through the township would ease congestion, provide recreation and add needed ways of transportation for residents.
They suggested that trails could be constructed on the river waterfront to reach the Toms River bus station. They envision natural habitat there and want to restrict the growth of impervious surfaces in new developments. "They are paving over everything," Donohue said.
Kelaher, Donohue and commission members agreed that environmental impact studies (EIS) are the means to protecting the town by restricting developments that are bad for the environment.
"When the state Department of Environmental Protection agency designated Toms River as a Category One body of water, it proved how pristine parts of our municipality really are," Kelaher said.
"There are many concerns to be addressed as the township continues to grow," he told the commission. "You are in the position to make recommendations to the planning board and township boards. It is your insight and suggestions that will ensure Toms River continues to develop property with all environmental concerns in mind, especially when it entails open space preservation, water resources management, soil and landscape protection and marine resources."
Commission member Len Colica, who is also the planning board liaison, and Commission Chairman Bill Suchodolski listened as members Kevin Root, Sheila McVeigh, Mike LaManna, Nancy Corlis, David McKee, Janet Larson and Dee Fallato voiced their concerns to Kelaher, who promised to keep the commission's work a top priority in his administration.
McVeigh outlined the need for the EIS reports in planning future projects.
"An environmental impact statement prepared by a prospective developer describes the future development of a site taking into account a multitude of factors that have the potential to environmentally impact the property," she said, adding that members of the commission analyze the EIS to be certain that developers reports also contain provisions to mitigate conditions which could have a negative effect on a site. "In this way, every effort is made to assure that our environment continues to be protected for the future."
"While you are volunteering your time to see Toms River remain environmentally safe, we too are doing what we can in Town Hall to assure the same," Kelaher said, informing members that Town Hall is updating its computer capacity to include GIS mapping. "One of our newest employees in engineering, Brendan Weiner, who has a graduate degree from Rutgers in geography, has most recently been assigned to update the1974 Natural Resources Inventory (NRI)."
The mayor stressed the importance of learning more about Toms River's natural resources from using NRI texts, maps, pictures and tables, "so that we can describe and compare information on the natural environmental characteristics and features of certain areas of the township."
Weiner's studies will focus on Toms River's geology, soil and hydrology, wildlife habitat, critical areas of land use, known contaminated sites, watersheds, streams and wetlands. He is expected to attend the October commission meeting with an update on the NRI project.
Kelaher also said that the township hired 10 summer interns to assist officials in meeting new state-mandated storm water regulations that require Toms River to provide outfall mapping.
The interns are working closely with Township Planner Jay Lynch, and in addition to tracking all outfall mapping the interns are inspecting all storm drains and fire hydrants and are mapping out areas for proposed bike trails in the township.
Commission members agreed that a bike trail system is needed for the town. Root suggested the area behind Water Street that would enable residents to reach the bus station and public transportation.
"Planning for the land to be used for that must be done now," said Larson, a past commission chairperson.
Federal grant money is available; commission members urged the township to submit applications.
"I'd like to see the commission set up more outside events to inform residents about Toms River and how they can make their own properties environmentally safe, which in turn will keep the local community clean and green," Kelaher said.
The mayor thanked commission members for volunteering their time, and giving him the opportunity to share his thoughts on the commission's role.
Commission members said they were honored by the mayor's visit and encouraged in their role as township environmental guardians.
"It's an honor to hear his visions and ideas for our town," said Suchodolski.
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