Environmental Commission: Affordable Housing Obligations Could Affect Hopatcong's Aesthetics

"There's consequences to everything," said Jerry Scanlan, chairman of Hopatcong's Environmental Commission.

The comment was made at Wednesday's commission meeting at borough hall, as members discussed the  which sets the state's affordable housing standards. Commission member and Hopatcong Planning Board representative Alan Gilbert said COAH's mandates could cause Hopatcong to lose some of its natural beauty.

That's been a consistent concern for the environmental commission. Member Sheryl Nowell Wednesday emphasized the importance of making sure the borough's tree ordinance is enforced. The ordinance requires that the planning board submit an annual forest management report, something that the environmental commission said it has never received.

The report is meant to protect against overdevelopment and the excessive removal of trees. Environmental commission members said clear-cutting of wooded areas poses a threat to the borough's aesthetics.

But failing to provide for affordable housing as mandated by COAH could put Hopatcong at risk of losing some control over development. A developer could sue the municipality for the right to build properties not normally allowed under Hopatcong zoning, if the developer also intended to provide for the required affordable housing.

In other business: 

• The commission recently received a $6,500 grant from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions to update the open space and recreation plan, which hasn't been touched in six years. The open space plan is another environmental preservation initiative that creates greater incentive for the commission to make sure the tree ordinance is enforced.
• Commission members discussed remarking trails around town, a task Nowell volunteered to take on. But she asked, "Is it all right if I wait until the bears go to sleep?" Scanlan jokingly replied, "A true environmentalist would do it anyway."
• Water testing, which is done four times a year by the commission and regularly by outside groups, has found trace amounts of fecal coliform and E. coli in Lake Hopatcong, but as of now the amounts found do not pose a threat to the lake.
• One of the more ambitious ideas proposed by the commission was to organize more borough clean-up days, on which residents could dispose of certain items at a predetermined spot. Recent electronics and tire clean-up days proved to be successful as many participated, members said. Some even went as far as to comb the woods for tires and bring them to the drop-off point.
• Another proposed idea for getting residents involved in community improvements as Hopatcong Pride Month, during which a list of jobs would be compiled, and people and the various departments in the borough would join together to make sure those tasks are completed. They would range from simple tasks, such as picking up litter, to helping restore run down facilities.
• The commission also agreed to pursue enrollment in the Sustainable Jersey program, which helps communities identify and implement ways to become more environmentally friendly. Communities that reach Bronze or Silver certification become available for state-issued grants and funding. The commission set the goal of reaching Bronze certification by 2011. 
• Commission members stressed the importance of making citizens aware of JCP&L's Home Energy Analyzer, which allows people to more efficiently manage energy consumption and save money.
• The commission introduced three new members: Arlene Lelling, Bradley Hoferkamp, and Pat Hoferkamp, who volunteered to take on public relations duties for the commission.