Based on the Planning Board’s recommendation, the Township Committee postponed plans Monday that would allow open space to be used for active recreation.
By:Jessica Beym
The Township Committee postponed plans Monday to allow active recreation on township-owned open space so that it can first update the Open Space and Recreation portion of its Master Plan
While the committee was in favor of changing land use laws in order to address the growing need for team practice fields, members of the Planning Board did not agree, saying they wanted to first document the township’s needs before permanent changes are made.
The township currently allows preserved open space to be used for agricultural or passive recreation. An ordinance introduced May 8 would have allowed the township to plan for much needed active recreation space, such as athletic fields, on parcels zoned Residential Light Impact, and Residential-Low Density, subject Planning Board approval.
The parcels in those zones are the Updike property on Cranbury Neck Road, the Wright South Property behind Cranbury School, the Fischer and Hagerty properties on Old Cranbury Road, and the Frosztega property off North Main Street near Dey Road.
The Planning Board, at a joint meeting with the Township Committee on May 18, voted 4-3 against recommending the ordinance to the Township Committee, saying that a revised Open Space and Recreation Master Plan should be developed before the township designates specific parcels for future park space.
Planning Board members Allan Kehrt, Eugene Speer, James Golubieski, and Robert Dreyling voted against the ordinance. Tom Harvey, David Stout and Joan Weidner were in favor. Planning Board member and Township Committeeman Richard Stannard was absent.
"We need to know what the needs are before we implement something so it won’t be a surprise to everyone in town when it happens," Mr. Kehrt said.
The Planning Board recommended that the township immediately begin work on revising the Open Space and Recreation portion of the Master Plan by setting up a subcommittee to gather information about the specific needs and the available resources.
While the Township Committee said it has the authority to adopt the ordinance regardless of the Planning Board’s decision, it agreed Monday that revising the Open Space and Recreation portion of the Master Plan before proceeding would be in the community’s best interest.
Board of Recreation Chairperson Beth Veghte and Parks Commission Chairperson Judy Dossin said Monday that they were disappointed that the ordinance was not approved and an immediate solution to the demand for park space wasn’t offered.
"We just feel pushed into a corner as the community grows," Ms. Veghte said. "Right now we have no options for temporary usage."
Committee member Wayne Wittman, who has been working with the Board of Recreation and the Parks Commission to develop an inventory of resources, said he understands the township’s need for recreation space. "With a defendable Master Plan, we’ll be able to support that," Mr. Wittman said.
Revising the Master Plan has been on the township’s agenda for two years, according to Committee member Pari Stave, who recalled a similar issue that occurred two years ago.
Ms. Stave said the Board of Recreation and Parks Commission came to the Planning Board in 2003 with a need for more active recreation park space and at that time, a similar ordinance was developed amending the township’s definition of open space. But Ms. Stave said the Planning Board decided at that time that the Master Plan should first be revised.
The Planning Board is responsible for maintaining the Master Plan. Planning Board Secretary Josette Kratz said that every six years, the board must do a re-examination report to document any major changes within the township, state if problems have been reduced or increased and make updated recommendations. The last re-examination report was conducted in December and since 1996 portions of the Master Plan have been updated separately including open space, storm water management and traffic. The Master Plan in its entirety has not been updated since 1993.
Money to update portions of the plan were set aside in the 2004 and 2005 budget, but the project was never worked on, Ms. Stave said.
"A fire has been lit under the Planning Board, finally, to get this done," Ms. Stave said Monday. "They didn’t change the ordinance two years ago and I have to say they dropped the ball on that."
Money has also been set aside in the current budget to update the Master Plan. Township Planner Richard Preiss said that if the Open Space and Recreation portion is worked on separately, it could be completed by late fall.

