Township planners hold special work session
The future of development and traffic on Route 31 will be among the topics discussed by the Hopewell Township Planning Board at a special work session tonight, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m.
The Citizens’ Master Plan Advisory Committee, chaired by Joan Hall of Elm Ridge Park, will make a presentation about its study of Route 31 and make recommendations for the board to consider. The committee was appointed last year to assist the Planning Board and the Township Committee in its efforts to adopt a new Master Plan for Hopewell Township.
In another matter related to Route 31, the board will begin exploring possible ways to conduct an extensive, joint study with Pennington Borough of the state highway corridor.
Route 31 extends through Hopewell Township from the Ewing Township border to its northern border with East and West Amwell. In the middle, it runs along the western edge of Pennington Borough near the Pennington Quality Market shopping center. The road is characterized by heavy traffic volume and single-use strip commercial development, although there are homes along it as well.
The township, with the support of Pennington Borough, was recently awarded a $36,000 Smart Growth Planning Grant from the state Department of Community Affairs to conduct a comprehensive review of the Route 31 corridor and prepare design standards for development along the roadway.
"We are committed to carrying out a unique, joint planning process with our neighbor, Pennington Borough – along with local landowners, business people and interested citizens – to create standards and ordinances that spell out an appropriate vision for what kind of development should be on Route 31 and what it should look like," said Hopewell Township Mayor Marylou Ferrara.
"We are committed to reaching out in a big, public way to every property owner and anyone with an interest in Route 31 to craft a collective vision for this roadway," said Kathleen Bird, Township Committee member and a Planning Board member.
Ms. Bird noted that a publication of the Hunterdon County Planning Board – Preserving Community Character in Hunterdon County, A Community Design Handbook – presents clear guidelines that Hopewell Township needs to embrace and follow to preserve the area’s precious rural character in the face of increasing development pressure.
In addition, water expert Matthew Mulhall, of M2 Associates of Frenchtown, will be on hand to discuss his recent report on ground water quality and quantity and the soils and natural conditions of Hopewell Township. Mr. Mulhall will answer questions posed by members of the Planning Board and the public.
Groundwater quality and quantity is critical to the Hopewell Valley and the surrounding region. Most of the township has wells for drinking water and to meet other human water needs, and uses septic systems for its wastewater discharge. It has poor soils and fractured bedrock and is considered environmental fragile. Yet the Hopewell Fault, a deep crack in the earth, runs in an east-west direction just north of the Hopewell Borough line. The Hopewell Fault is characterized by plentiful water supplies that need protection.
"We strongly encourage all citizens in the Hopewell Valley to become involved in the ongoing discussions about the future of our rural community," said Planning Board Chairman Michael Aucott. "We need to know what people think about how much, and what kind, of future development is appropriate and where."
A master plan is a blueprint – or a vision – of land use in the township. It includes sections on housing, traffic circulation, open space and recreation, natural resources, historic preservation, and other elements. A municipality’s vision, spelled out in its master lan, is enacted through ordinances, or local laws passed by the township committee.
"The extensive master plan work we are doing is aimed at answering the question, ‘What does Hopewell Township want to be when it grows up?’ We want citizens to tell us what their answer is, and help the elected and appointed representatives on the Township Committee, Planning Board and Environmental Commission form the collective answer that expresses the will of the people," said Mayor Ferrara.
Citizens are encouraged to attend planning board meetings. The schedule is available in the Hopewell Valley News, on Channel 9 cable television, and by calling the municipal building at 737-0605.