Environmental Impact Report: Elm Street Park (ESP) & Florham Parks Open Space

"Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them". George Santayana

Section VII: Final Points

The Borough and Recreation Committee will tell you that they are saving the remaining 82% of this newly acquired Borough land. What they fail to tell you is that out of the land that remains the majority is wetland confined. And make no mistake: in the next 30 years when the town keeps the green light to development wide open, as they have to this point, the future mayor or recreation committee will tell you theyll need to develop this land in order to annex the complex for more fields, lacrosse pavilions, a new municipal pool and maybe even a cat park.

Recommendation:

The Borough still hasnt performed a complete environmental inventory of the BMEC which this recently cleared land was once part of. We wouldnt know what we were losing until it is gone or compromised to the point it ceases to function. At the minimum I would suggest that the Borough allow for such a study to commence this spring extending into the fall season in order to produce a diversity-baseline that future management of the park and surrounding woodlands can utilize as a base. I tried my best to have the town consider a Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) - 80% of all municipalities have one, this would be a major step forward for the production of a baseline of natural capital assets in the Borough. The cost of such a study would be in the area of $12,000.00, but the answer was the same one Ive gotten since I came on board as your EC chairman no money. The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) has a matching grant for such an endeavor so the town would have to pony-up about $6,000 of the total amount. (Consider that they found $250,000 to cut down the forest they did not want to study in the first place, phase-I).

Commentary: Im sure if the recreation committee wanted a new swing set at Stobeus field wed find the money somewhere. Sounds childish I know, but I maintain BR Environmental, LLC 54 Park Street Florham Park, NJ 07932 Page 1

the premise that if its rec-centric it flies, if its forward thinking environmental economics it doesnt resonate.

This report may sound to some as a one-sided, earth first rant; I hope you will not see it this way. Rather Id challenge you to do your own investigations on the issue(s) of Open Space in the Borough, keeping an open mind to how quickly build-out has occurred. I challenge you to get a feel for the environmental economics of the situation before voicing a counter opinion. Ive tried my best to promote awareness for real environmental change in the Borough, but I can tell you first hand this administration is not interested. For sure some small gains have been made; Id like to think that the Spring Garden Lake Restoration project has caused an uptick in conscious awareness of local environmental issues of the day.

The big environmental initiative that the Borough of Florham Park is going to sell you in 2012 is for passive trails into sensitive woodlands and wetlands. From my perspective, when contrasted with a true accounting of the real environmental issues the Borough now faces this initiative is a hollow subterfuge, a Band-Aid used to cover real scars. Trails are simply whitewash in order to avoid the paradigm shift necessary to change course in any meaningful way.

I can predict the immediate retort from the current administration is going include the following: (a) FP Borough set aside 11 acres at Fish Brook Park (currently an ad hoc hunting club property for use by local law enforcement to practice their hobby), (b) FP Borough extended a fractional part of its budget for Spring Garden Lake, (keep in mind the EC maintains the lake at no expense to the taxpayer). Currently the administration says no money for upkeep of the resource and no money for the project this year. And, (c) Florham Park has set aside a little bit of over-deer-browsed woodland adjacent to Stobeus Field surrounded by development on all four sides; I would agree that the purchase of this land was the best use of Open Space Grant Money during this cycle. Also it should be noted that all remaining block and lot owners have gained value and advantage from this land preservation - pay strict attention to the benefactors (for my money this would have been the best place to clear 10 acres and put a turf field).

The Mayor and Council deserve kudos for these first step enterprises. However, meaningful environmental protection in the Borough is hard to come by when BR Environmental, LLC 54 Park Street Florham Park, NJ 07932 Page 2

juxtaposed with the scale of environmental and open space problems facing the Borough.

My fear is that weve reached the edge of the event horizon in our town and the challenge to reverse the trend is too daunting under current levels of understanding. The removal of 20 acres of the most environmentally sensitive land in the Borough, a town that has technically reached Build-out, is unambiguous testimony to this final point.

Blaine Rothauser (President BR Environmental, LLC)

BR Environmental, LLC

54 Park Street

Florham Park, NJ 07932 Page 3

Florham Park Environmental Commission

32-3. Powers and duties.

The Environmental Commission shall have the following duties to: A. Study and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council in areas of conservation and environmental protection, which shall include but not be limited to pollution control of all types; waste disposal, including sewage, garbage and solid waste; open space preservation, with emphasis on outdoor recreation needs, aesthetic flora and fauna preservation and beautification; and water resources. B. Plan local conservation programs and inform the public about those programs. C. Prepare, print and distribute informational materials, such as books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes, within the limits of funds appropriated to the Commission and with the approval of the Borough Council. D. Keep an index of all open areas, publicly and privately owned, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas. E. Recommend, from time to time, to the Planning Board, plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan of the Borough of Florham Park for development and use of such areas. F. Operate conservation programs on lands donated or purchased for conservation purposes by the Borough of Florham Park. G. Do such other acts and things as are reasonably related to and assigned to carry out the purposes and objectives of the commission.

BR Environmental, LLC

54 Park Street

Florham Park, NJ 07932 Page 4