|
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCAL COMMNITIES HELP SHAPE A VISION
FOR THE SOURLANDS IN SOMERSET, HUNTERDON, AND MERCER COUNTIES, NEW
JERSEY
Flemington, NJ October 26, 2007 - The Sourlands
Planning Council (SPC) announced today that they have completed
a series of five community visioning meetings throughout the Sourlands
Region. These meetings are the first phase of a continuing
public participation process in connection with an effort by the
SPC to help inform future preservation and development in the region.
The SPC received a grant from the NJ Office of Smart Growth to create
a community-based conservation plan that, when implemented, will
help protect water quality and maintain the natural resources in
the region. To create this plan, they hired the professional
planning firm Banisch Associates, Inc. of Flemington, the Stony
Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, and Conservation Resources
Inc.
The Sourlands region spans 90 square miles (56,000 acres) and includes
is the largest unbroken forest in the heart of central New Jersey.
It falls within three counties, seven municipalities, and three
major regional watersheds. Located midway between New York
and Philadelphia, the Sourlands are roughly bordered by the Delaware
River to the west, Route 206 in Hillsborough to the east, Route
514 to the north, and Route 518 to the south. Its unique geology,
water resources, deep wood forests, wetlands, history, and culture
all define the Sourland Mountains region.
“Our goal is to create a bottom-up approach to planning”,
said Frank Banisch, President of Banisch Associates, Inc.
Banish added, “We are accomplishing this by seeking meaningful
public input throughout the planning process”.
“We have had a tremendous amount of public input from throughout
the community,” said John Brunner, Executive Director of the
Sourlands Planning Council. “We know it is hard for
everyone to attend these meetings so it’s important for people
to realize that it is not too late to make their voices heard.
We have set up an innovative system for gathering additional input
into this planning process.
“One of the exciting parts about this planning process is
the cutting-edge way the public can continue to contribute,”
added Jim Waltman, Executive Director of Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed
Association. “In our busy society, we realize that it
is sometimes difficult for folks to attend meetings. We have
developed an interactive website that people can access at their
convenience.” This website provides the complete background
studies and reports for the Sourlands and lets anyone with access
to the internet contribute to the vision. To learn more about
the Sourlands and to contribute to this exciting process, visit
www.TheWatershed.org/sourlands.
Go to “your map” on the website to add comments through
an interactive map. Go to “your input” to fill
out a survey about protection efforts in the Sourlands.
“The public input from these meetings indicates that local residents are concerned about protecting water quality, preserving critical forests, protecting farmland, and preserving the unique rural character of the Sourlands Region,” said Michael Catania, President of Conservation Resources Inc. “There has been strong public support and interest in exploring creative ways to help preserve the precious natural resources of the Sourlands,” added Catania.
##
Click here for more information
on the CRI's involvement in this exciting project.
|
