Warehouse and housing development continues to increase in Cranbury without creating wide-scale environmental degradation, according to David Nissan, chairman of the Environmental Commission.
By:Brian Shappell
Warehouse and housing development continues to increase in Cranbury without creating wide-scale environmental degradation, according to David Nissan, chairman of the Environmental Commission.
The Environmental Commission has had a lot to do with that.
The commission has been particularly important in the preservation of the township’s resources over the past five years as development has sharply increased, mostly in the eastern, industrial section of the township. Much of the land, once used for farming, was allowed to be developed so that other areas could be protected, most notably in the Agricultural Zone in western Cranbury.
“It wouldn’t have been economically feasible to protect all of the land,” said Mr. Nissen. “I’ve always been willing to accept the tradeoff to develop the east to protect the rest of the township. Development is always somewhat of a devil’s bargain.”
The Environmental Commission is an advisory body to the Planning Board and Township Committee on issues such as open space preservation, pollution control, solid waste management and soil and landscape protection. The commission comments to the Planning Board on environmental impacts for all site plans and subdivisions for use variants. Members also are responsible for recommending changes to site plans that encroach upon environmental values such as wetland preservation.
“We’ve asked the Planning Board to make sure we have a liaison with contractors,” said Mr. Nissen. “We’ve taken it on ourselves to take pictures of a site before and after to monitor such things as soil erosion and streambed encroachment at the development sites.
“Members have taken personal responsibility in protecting sites,” he continued.
Though development continues in the industrial zone, which hosts mostly warehousing, contractors have been constantly under scrutiny by the township. Members of the Environmental Commission visit the sites regularly to check for possible violations. According to Township Engineer Cathleen Marcelli, the contraction companies have been cooperative over the past five years.
“The developers have had to take environmental issues very seriously,” said Township Engineer Cathleen Marcelli. “I have not found too many violations of regulations mandated by the DEP and the Freehold Soil Conservation District.”
Development of land east of Route 130 has extended to 2.9 million square feet of warehousing and 457,209 square feet of office space. The development, according to Mr. Nissen, has been a benefit to the town.
The decision by township officials in 1995 to pursue development of the area has resulted in the widespread protection of open space in the western part of town and helps protect the historic village.
“I was one of the early advocates of the zoning change that enabled construction on the east part of town,” Mr. Nissen said. “The broadening of the tax base has significantly aided in efforts of farmland preservation in the West.”
Mr. Nissen supports continuing the eastern development to help preserve open space areas near the historic village and the continuing attempts of the township to finalize the purchase of the Barclay and Wright Properties. Mr. Nissen said the purchases are vital for the township from an environmental standpoint.
“Keeping that land open space saves the village,” Mr. Nissen said. “That edge on the northwest corner really protects the historical context of the township.”
Overall, the chairman feels the township’s decisions have been balanced and served Cranbury well.
“My friend Bill Bunting, who flies over Cranbury in his plane, says Cranbury ‘is like an emerald green enclave in an area that is a sea of development,’” Mr. Nissen said. “That is very special.”