Environment

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. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented …

Environmental Commissioner Arnold Schmidt was credited with doing the “heavy lifting” in getting the proposed anti-idling ordinance ready for review. Environmental Commission members were given a final look January 23 at the anti-idling ordinance they will propose to the Township Council. The ordinance, now being sent for attorney review, is based on the statewide anti-idling law, but adds a few …

Tara Kenyon, the township’s Open Space Consultant, describes the grant to Open Space Advisory Committee members at the January 17 meeting. Township officials are preparing a grant application targeted to fix up the trail and make other enhancements at Naaman Williams Park. Plans are to apply for a grant offered by Sustainable Jersey, a statewide organization whose mission is to …

Environmental Commission member Robyn Suydam said a conversation with a Council member spurred her to suggest the change in the sub-committee’s scope. The scope of an Environmental Commission sub-committee working on a “green roof” ordinance has been expanded. The decision to expand the sub-committee’s charge came as a result of a suggestion by Commissioner Robin Suydam. Don’t Miss Out! No …

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 …