Environment

Environmental Commission member Robin Suydam suggested that the Commission broaden the scope of a proposed “green roof” ordinance. Members of the township’s Environmental Commission will soon begin crafting a proposed ordinance that would require large new commercial buildings to have some form of “green” roof in their design. That design could include solar or wind energy capturing units, or complete …

Environmental Commissioner Arnold Schmidt said it’s time the township charged developers the actual cost of replacing trees they remove for projects. Developers have been getting off easy for too long when it comes to paying to replace trees they remove for building projects, and something needs to be done about it. So says the township’s Environmental Commission, which moved on …

Joe Paulin, from the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension, talks to the Committee about the township and region’s deer problem. Damage done by deer is costing farmers in New Jersey millions of dollars in lost crops, the township Open Space Advisory Committee was told on September 20. And although non-lethal forms of deer management – such as sterilization – have limited …

Energy Aggregation and why it is important is the subject of a presentation set for 6 p.m.. September 29 at the Franklin Township Library Community Room AB, 485 DeMott Lane. Presented by the Franklin Township Environmental Commission in collaboration with the Franklin Township Library, Gabel Associates and Sustainable Jersey, the program is designed to teach attendees more about energy aggregation …

The D&R Canal 5 Mile Lock parking lot will be closed for about three weeks starting around July 25. (Map: Google). The tow path/trail next to the Landing Lane Bridge, and the 5 Mile Lock parking area on Easton Avenue will be closed for repair and rehabilitation starting July 25. The New Jersey Water Supply Authority will repair the Landing …

Doris Lin, of the Animal Protection League of New Jersey, discusses nonlethal methods of deer control at the Open Space Advisory Committee’s June 21 meeting. The township Open Space Advisory Committee could not be called an anti-hunting group, but nonetheless its members listened politely to an animal advocate who tried to convince them of the merits of nonlethal deer control. …

Bob Chilton of Gabel Associates explains an aspect of clean energy aggregation during a special Township Council meeting on June 20. The pros and cons of clean energy aggregation were discussed at a special Township Council meeting on June 20. The meeting was necessitated by the submission of petitions requesting that a question be placed on the November ballot asking …

Tara Kenyon. The Franklin Township Police Department and the township Trails Advisory Committee will team up this Fall to present what they hope will be the first of many “walk and talks” on trail safety. Tara Kenyon, the township’s Open Space consultant, told the Committee at its June 8 meeting that she met with FTPD Sgt. Rebecca Leah to talk …

Celebrate the summer season and revel in the beauty of roses at the Rose Day Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11 at Colonial Park’s Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden, 156 Mettlers Road, Parking Lot A. The festival, hosted by the Somerset County Park Commission and Park Foundation, is free.  More than 325 varieties of roses …

The map shows township storm drains that are available to be “adopted.” Township residents can now volunteer to help keep Franklin’s 7,473 storm drains clear and clean. The Township recently joined the national Adopt-a-Drain program, through which residents sign up to “adopt” drains in their neighborhoods or elsewhere in their town. The program asks for about 15 minutes, twice a …