Environment

A project touted to help reduce the utility bills for township low- and moderate-income families is expected to receive the Township Council’s support. The project was introduced to the Council’s Public Works Committee by representatives from Manhattan-based Dimension Renewable Energy, who propose installing solar arrays on some of the township’s larger warehouse buildings, Township Councilman Ted Chase (D-Ward 1) told …

A public hearing will be conducted in January to get residents’ input on changing the use of a 1-acre parcel of land at New Brunswick Road and Willow Avenue to create a park. Township residents will have the chance in January to give their opinions on a proposed “pocket park” at New Brunswick Road and Willow Avenue. The Township Council …

The winners of the 2020 Trails Advisory Committee’s “Take A Photo From A Trail” photo contest have been announced. The annual contest is open to children and adults and seeks to publicize the benefits of Franklin’s many trails. The categories are each of the areas which host trails. Following are the winning photographs: Bunker Hill Natural Area A Secret Place …

An aerial view of the Bunker Hill Environmental Center, showing the building’s roof. A bid by a member of the Open Space Advisory Committee to recommend installing a “green roof” on the Bunker Hill Environmental Center got no traction at the Committee’s October 20 virtual meeting. Open Space members didn’t think the location was right for a green roof, and …

Volunteers are being sought for the annual John Clyde Stream Cleanup. (File Photo). The annual John Clyde Stream Cleanup is set for 9:30 a.m. to noon September 26 at Seeley’s Run. The annual event, sponsored by the township Environmental Commission, is named after the late former township Mayor who created it. The Commission is partnering with Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership …

A proposed township ban on most single-use plastics is ready after months of work, but the question of whether the Township Council will entertain it remains open. The township’s Environmental Commission spent hours over the last six months agonizing over what would be included in the proposed ordinance, finally settling on most single-use bags, polystyrene foam products and plastic straws. …

Based on Governor Murphy’s recent Executive Order allowing an increase in the number of people permitted at outdoor gatherings and the lifting of the stay-at-home order, the Somerset County Park Commission will re-open the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden with certain restrictions in place.The Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden in Colonial Park at 156 Mettlers Road …

The Colonial Park Gardens and Go-Green Committee have rescheduled the Arbor Day Celebration Native Tree Give-Away for Friday, June 19, 2020 at the Colonial Park Gardens, 156 Mettlers Road, Lot F. Curbside pickup of native trees will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Colonial Park Gardens. Information will be provided about each native tree species explaining the eventual …

One more township resident tested positive for the coronavirus over the previous 24 hours, the township Office of Emergency Management reported on June 3. There were no new deaths attributed to the disease in that time period, OEM said. That brings the total number of positive tests of Franklin residents to 1,218, according to OEM. Test samples for the coronavirus …

A nearly four-year battle against a project that would have placed a 32,000-horsepwer gas compressor station in the township ended May 15 with the denial of necessary permits by the state. In a decision based more on a technicality than environmental concerns, state environmental officials have denied a series of applications that would have allowed the construction of a 32,000-horsepower …