The draft will be presented at a special meeting of the Planning Board Jan. 26.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE The Planning Board is inviting residents to comment on a draft version of the city’s storm water management plan.
The plan will be presented during a special meeting of the Planning Board on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Justice Center on South Union Street.
"The public is very welcome. Actually the public is very much invited," said John A. Miller, a member of the board.
Mr. Miller also is chairman of the Stormwater Committee.
For those who cannot attend the meeting, a copy of the plan is on file at City Hall. A copy of the plan also will be kept at the Lambertville Public Library on Lilly Street, Mr. Miller said.
The state has mandated every municipality have a storm water management master plan in place by April 1 in preparation for the passage of a storm water control ordinance by 2006.
The state passed regulations in 2004 governing compliance concerning nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution comes from lawns and houses and streets and construction sites rather than industrial factories or treatment facilities.
One of the main goals of the plan is to protect sources of drinking water. Other goals include the reduction of damage by floods to property and life, the reduction of soil erosion from development and construction, the prevention of an increase in nonpoint source pollution and maintaining groundwater recharge.
The proposed plan will affect new construction in major developments, according to Mr. Miller. It concentrates on the disturbance of an acre or more of ground or the introduction of a quarter of an acre of impervious substance. Impervious substances include such items as roofs, driveways and streets.
The draft of Lambertville’s plan is 53 pages long. The pages of scientific and ecological facts have been artfully interspersed with boxes of text containing interesting bits and pieces about the city’s historic and cultural character. Those text boxes, plus drawings and photos, alleviate much of the dry feel such a document might normally convey.
Among the topics covered in the draft are explanations of how storm water affects people, the city’s resources and sensitive areas, best management practices for storm water runoff and an analysis of land use. Also included in the plan is a model storm water ordinance.
Why should storm water runoff concern residents?
"Often people do not know or understand that there are alternatives to the traditional way of managing their property," according to the report. "For example, homeowners can have a green lawn without massive doses of fertilizers and pesticides. Pet owners should deposit pet waste in the trash or in the toilet and not leave it at the curb.
"Typically, people are unaware that storm drains often discharge directly into water bodies. When people allow motor oil, trash and their pet’s waste to enter the storm sewer in their street, they don’t realize that it may end up in the lake down the street or in their public drinking water supply. Individually these acts may seem insignificant, but their cumulative impact contributes to storm water/nonpoint source pollution and reduces water quality."
Comments may be submitted to the board via city Clerk Lori Buckelew at City Hall.

