By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
CRANBURY — A Boy Scout has received a green light from the Township Committee to create a recreational trail that would give the public access to what’s known as the Hagerty property, which runs along Old Cranbury Road.
Hunter Pormilli would like to create a trail following natural trails on the property that people have created by going there to fish. The trail would follow the Hagerty property to Twin Oaks and there is a possibility of creating a trail that would loop back to the trail’s origin, a dirt parking lot where three or four cars can currently be parked.
He hopes to start clearing the trail this fall, putting up paint markers on trees to denote the trail and installing a sign in the front to name the trail, which would measure a little over a mile.
“Honestly I don’t think it will take that long,” Hunter said. “I’ll have a few people helping me out with it and it’s not going to be that much work. I’ll be making the existing trail wider and clearing low-hanging dead branches and other tree debris from along the path.”
Committee members had some concerns including keeping the trail as far away from private property as possible, making the parking lot a dusk to dawn parking area only and having Hunter bring in the design of trail sign for approval.
Mayor James Taylor said he and residents who live in the area want to be sure that the trail would be maintained as the Scouts created a bridge and a trail in that area not long ago that overgrew quickly rendering the route useless.
The mayor was optimistic about the proposed project, though, saying he hadn’t been back there in about 10-15 years, but knowing the area that Hunter shouldn’t have any problems completing the trail.
Committeewoman Susan Goetz said Hunter should consider connecting the trail to the bridge so people living in the area wouldn’t have to drive to the parking lot for access.
“There’s value in connecting it to that bridge so residents don’t have to drive to use the trail,” she said.
Shadow Oaks resident Patty Janowitz had concerns that creating this trail would ultimately lead the township into wanting to create a trail behind her housing development.
“I’m not buying into this if this is a start and if we’re not being told this is a start — that’s awful,” she said.
Mayor Taylor said, “Putting trails behind Shadow Oaks is not something this committee would do. This can’t be the start anything because the Township Committee up here doesn’t want this to be the start of anything. We are not entertaining a trail along Washington Road.”
Paul Mullen, of the township’s Environmental Commission, said the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is mandating the trail project organizers complete a checklist to ensure that the trail does not encroach on wetlands or does not have any additions or improvements that would make it necessary to notify homeowners in the area of its construction.
“At this time we’re going through the checklist and submitting it,” Mr. Mullen said. “There’s no time limit but it’s a pretty fast process as long as we provide the data they are looking for.”
Hunter hopes to receive all necessary approvals, saying that the trail would be good for individuals and families who enjoy bird watching, walking with their children and walking their dogs.
