September 19, 2002

Mayor and Council Members

Borough of Kinnelon
130 Kinnelon Road
Kinnelon, NJ 07405

Dear Mayor and Council Members:

I am writing you as the facilitator for a coalition of 32 regional and statewide organizations called For Our Future. The coalition was formed to support State Plan policies that will help prevent sprawl. As a member of For Our Future, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions is very concerned about the proposed rezoning of the 164-acre "Weber Tract" for high-density housing.

This property is identified in the State Development and Redevelopment Plan as "PA-5". It adjoins and contains segments and tributaries of the Pequannock River, classified as Category 1 trout production waters, and contains exceptional resource value wetlands. The Pequannock River is identified on state and federal lists as "impaired", so needs to be protected from impacts caused by high density development. The tract abuts Morris County's Silas Condict Park. Disturbance of the steep slopes on the tract would badly impact the adjacent Pequannock River. In addition, the NJDEP Division of Watershed Management has categorized the vast majority of this tract as having the highest level of water resource value.

Given these environmental qualities and constraints, this land should be targeted for preservation rather than intensive development. Open space acquisition would safeguard these critical waters and wildlife while serving as a valuable amenity to Kinnelon residents and other concerned citizens across our state.

For these reasons I urge you to reject this rezoning proposal.

Sincerely,

Abigail Fair

October 21, 2002

Timothy Touhey, Chair

NJ State Planning Commission

NJ Department of Community Affairs

PO Box 204

Trenton, NJ 08625

SUBJ: Pending Violation of State-Designated Center

Dear Mr. Touhey:

I am writing you as a member of FOR OUR FUTURE, a coalition formed to oppose sprawl development that is contrary to the State Plan and State Plan policies. Bloomingdale’s local government is favorably considering increasing the building density on a large tract - Springbrook Acres - from 160 units to 300 to 500 units.

The 104-acre Springbrook Acres (horse farm) is outside of the state-designated town center and is in Planning Area 5, containing environmentally sensitive features, including exceptional resource wetlands, steep slopes, aquifer recharge and flood control areas. Its protection is essential to protecting the Pequannock River. The proposed development of the farm is for 10 units per acre, would require sewering and violates the State approved boundary limits of the center.

We are strongly encouraging the Bloomingdale Planning Board and Town Council to discuss this matter with the State Planning Commission before proceeding with the adoption of any more intense development of this Planning Area 5 tract. We urge the State Planning Commission to communicate with Bloomingdale to caution the Town about the possible actions this intrusion into Planning Area 5 will cause. For example, Bloomingdale would have to amend its State Planning Commission center designation and could lose priority funding as a result.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Abigail Fair