Environment

MAKING HIS CASE – Environmental Commissioner Arnold Schmidt asks the Commission for its support of his plan to change the definition of a tree in the township tree ordinance. The Environmental Commission is taking another stab at changes to the township’s tree ordinance. The Commission at its December 18 meeting voted to forward an email, written by Commissioner Arnold Schmidt, …

OBJECTOR – Shade Tree Commissioner Arnie Schmidt said he was not in favor of taking PSE&G’s offer of 40 free trees because the area targeted for them has not yet been prepared. An offer by Public Service Electric & Gas to give 40 trees to the Township received a rocky reception at the October 26 Shade Tree Commission meeting. After …

NO MORE WAREHOUSES – Environmental Commissioner Robin Suydam said at the meeting that too many trees have already been sacrificed for development. The Environmental Commission on October 16 decided to recommend that the Township Zoning Board of Adjustment not approve an application for a warehouse at Weston Canal and Cottontail roads. The application, submitted by Somerset Properties Realty, calls for …

AGGREGATION ON HOLD – Township Councilmember Ed Potosnak explains to the Environmental Commission why the planned energy aggregation effort will probably wait until next Spring. Energy aggregation for township ratepayers will have to wait at least until the Spring of 2024, a Township official said on October 2. Updating the Environmental Commission on the Township’s progress in implementing energy aggregation, …

The Environmental Commission on September 18 voted to support an effort to establish a bottle bill in New Jersey. Ten other states in the country have such bills, which are designed to increase recycling rates for bottles made of glass, plastic and aluminum. The effort is being led by the Washington, D.C.-based Clean Water Action. “I don’t see a reason …

Protecting the Lower Raritan Watershed and the region’s water supply is the topic of a presentation set for 6 p.m. August 22 at the Franklin Township Library, 485 DeMott Lane. The program will be presented by the Franklin Township Environmental Commission, the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions. LRWP Board Members Heather Fenyk and …

FLORA NON GRATA – The Township Council has introduced an ordinance that would limit future bamboo plantings to those in above-ground bins. (Photo: Shutterstock.) Spurred by resident complaints at the June 13 meeting, the Township Council on July 11 introduced an ordinance that would limit how running bamboo can be planted in Franklin. Under the ordinance, all new plantings of …

ASKING FOR HELP – David Brook tells the Environmental Commission about the issues faced by his clients due to odors emanating from a township business. A group of residents battling a township fragrance company over odors emanating from its plant have turned to the Environmental Commission for help in the latest stage of that fight. The residents live near Agilex Fragrances …

TALKING TREES – Tara Kenyon, the township’s open space consultant, told the Open Space Committee what steps needed to be taken to bring about the Memorial Forest. A plan that’s been talked about for two decades may be getting a little closer to reality. The Open Space Advisory Committee on April 18 endorsed a plan to develop a site plan …

The township Environmental Commission has scheduled two cleanups for later this month. The first is set for Mile Run at 9:30 a.m. to noon on April 15, while the second clean-up is set for Naaman Williams Park, from 3-6 p.m. on April 19. For Mile Run cleanup, the Commission is partnering with the New Brunswick Environmental Commission (NBEC), Lower Raritan …