Municipal officials in Middletown have applied to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to seek bids for a solar energy farm at the NJ Transit station parking lot on Church Street in Middletown, according to a press release from the Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter.
The power generated by the facility would provide a 10% to 20% reduction to two senior apartment complexes with 252 total residential units, according to the Sierra Club.
“Middletown is taking important steps forward when it comes to community solar. … This would be one of the first community solar projects in the area and would allow nearby residents to benefit from solar energy. Putting solar over parking lots is important because it saves open space,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
The main parking lot of the train station in Middletown is approximately 7 acres of lined pavement. The township owns about two-thirds of the property, but the solar farm could potentially encompass the entire parking lot with approval from NJ Transit, according to the press release.
Power from the solar farm would run through Jersey Central Power & Light hardware to the two nearby apartment complexes, according to the Sierra Club’s press release.
The Township Committee in Middletown has voted unanimously to update the township’s land use ordinance to comply with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Infrastructure Rule, according to a press release from the Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter.
The new rules include requiring builders of larger developments to include features like rain gardens and green roofs to decrease the amount of storm water runoff from impervious surfaces, according to the press release.
“The biggest source of water pollution in New Jersey comes from storm water runoff. It is important that Middletown is moving forward on its own storm water ordinance to help deal with pollution and flooding,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
Earlier this year, the New Jersey Sierra Club launched a campaign to educate the public and local officials about the importance of passing strong storm water ordinances. The Sierra Club, along with a number of partners, has been urging municipal officials to adopt ordinances based on the Watershed Institute Enhanced Storm Water Rules Template, according to the press release.
The Keyport Borough Council will permit a local business to expand the use of its liquor license at its West Front Street property.
During a recent meeting, council members authorized the place-to-place transfer of the liquor license for Keyport Liquor License, LLC, (McDonough’s Pub). The business will be permitted to expand the use of its liquor license to the property’s second floor and the parking area.
The expansion is subject to conditions from the Monmouth County Board of Health, including a revised legible plan for the parking area if any permanent or temporary structures are intended for that area. If the county’s conditions are met, the expansion may move forward.
In other business, the council approved an agreement with the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Through the agreement, the MCSPCA will provide animal control services in Keyport.
According to a resolution, the animal control services will be performed by the MCSPCA for a 12-month period beginning April 1. Keyport will pay $16,800 and the agreement may be renewed by the council after the initial term.
And, council members established a procedure and regulations for storage lockers in Veterans Park for non-motorized vehicles. According to a resolution, the non-refundable annual rental fee for will be $120 for Keyport residents and $200 for non-residents.