Planning Board Reviews Amendment to the Master Plan

The Planning Board reviewed the with Edward Snieckus of Burgis Associates at Tuesday's meeting. 

The borough retained Burgis to prepare an amendment to the borough's 2004 comprehensive master plan in order to address inconsistencies between the Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) and the other planning documents in use by the borough, such as the Recreation and Open Space element that is part of the master plan that identifies undeveloped land used for recreation or conservation. 

In 2004, the borough adopted a comprehensive master plan that included a land use plan and an open space plan. This plan underwent a review in 2010, resulting in the adoption of a reexamination report.  

However, because there are lots not identified in the Recreation and Open Space element of the 2004 master plan and 2010 reexamination, an amendment must be adopted to correct the inconsistencies.  

Towns file a list of ROSI properties with NJDEP and Snieckus said that the NJDEP relies on the ROSI list when they are considering requests for grant money. He stressed that they make sure that there is consistency between documents in considering funding.

According to Snieckus, the ROSI list is "pretty much controlled by the DEP because of certain funding that they contribute to your ROSI list." 

However, Snieckus said that there may be reason to exclude properties that appear on the borough's Recreation and Open Space element of the master plan from the ROSI list. He said that as soon as open space goes on the ROSI list then the state has a say over it. 

What will also be included in the amendment are the flood properties that the town will purchase and return to open space through Blue Acres funds. These properties have not been publicly disclosed since the governing body is still in negotiations with willing homeowners. In the amendment, Snieckus included language that mentions any future flood prone properties that the borough may purchase and revert to open space. 

The board pointed out areas in the draft provided by Burgis that need correcting before the public hearing on July 24. 

The July 24 meeting of the Planning Board will be a combined work and public session beginning at 7:30 pm in the council chambers of . 

A copy of the draft amendment to the Recreation and Open Space element of the master plan prepared by Burgis is available in the Building Department for review.