The Planning Board is expected to make the plan an amendment to the city’s Master Plan at a meeting March 21.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE The Planning Board has adopted a new stormwater management plan.
The board is expected to make the plan an amendment to the Master Plan during a special meeting March 21. The meeting will be held at 7:15 p.m. at the Justice Center on South Union Street, immediately preceding a meeting of the City Council.
"You should be proud of your city for several reasons," board Chairman Timothy Korzun said when the board unanimously agreed to adopt the plan March 2. The city is "so far ahead of any other municipality in the state, it’s scary."
As mandated by state law, every municipality must have a stormwater management master plan in place by April 1. The council must adopt a stormwater management ordinance by 2006.
The state passed the regulations in 2004. The laws govern non-point source pollution, which is runoff from lawns, houses, streets and construction rather than any industrial source.
One of the main goals is to protect the state’s sources of drinking water. Other goals include the reducing soil erosion, maintaining groundwater recharge and reducing flood damage.
By availing itself of the expertise of volunteer citizens and Planning Board members with extensive knowledge in engineering, ecology and other areas, the city experienced a "cost savings others are paying for," Mr. Korzun said.
The new stormwater management plan will affect new construction in major developments, according to John Miller, chairman of the Stormwater Committee. It concentrates on the disturbance of 1 acre or more of ground or the introduction of ¼ acre of impervious substance. Impervious substances include such items as roofs, driveways and streets.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water Quality, "Stormwater runoff is the water that literally ‘runs off’ your property when it rains or snows. It doesn’t have to go into a sewer. It may just go into the street or into a nearby stream."
The division, at its Web site at www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/stormw.htm, also noted, "Everyone relies on clean water for life’s needs. Many industrial sites have materials that when exposed to stormwater have the potential to pollute our water resources. Pollution from any source harms our water supply.
"Pollution can include various different substances such as toxic chemicals, oil and grease, plastics, sediment and many other substances. While your industry may only contribute small amounts of pollution, the cumulative impact of thousands of industries, as well as the impact from everyone else accounts for over 60 percent of the water quality problems in our state’s waterways."
Residents may view the stormwater management plan at City Hall at 18 York St. or at the Lambertville Public Library at 6 Lilly St.
More information can be obtained at the DEP’s Web site: www.state.nj.us/dep/stormwater.