Hovbilt testimony touches on environmental aspects
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

Jackson

JACKSON - Testimony on the environmental aspects of an adult community was the topic of the most recent Hovbilt hearing before the Planning Board.

Hovbilt is proposing to build Jackson Valley, an age-restricted community of 965 condominium homes, in the Cassville section of Jackson. The area is in the vicinity of Route 571, Perrineville Road, Prospertown Road and West Veterans Highway.

Joel D. Gove, an environmental consultant with Habitat Management and Design, described the wetlands areas and a rare plant species, the swamp pink, which are part of the development site. He also testified about rare avian species - barred owls and Cooper hawks - and other animals - the Pine Barrens tree frog, a species of fox and a pine snake - at the site.

During the public portion of the board's Nov. 6 meeting, Theresa Lettman of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance said she is concerned about the threatened and endangered species on the site. She claimed the applicant does not have all of the documents its representatives said they possess.

"Stream encroachment has issued one part of the permit," but not another part, said Lettman. "They have [also] not reissued the letter of interpretation. When the applicant stands up and says he has the permits, you may think he has them all, and he clearly does not."

Gove said his testimony was that a stream encroachment permit had been issued. Testimony indicated that a freshwater permit application has been submitted and the applicant is waiting for that permit. He said a letter of interpretation was reissued, but the applicant is waiting for a modification.

Lettman questioned the possibility of moving the northern pine snake.

Attorney Donald Daines, representing Hovbilt, said the applicant will follow all state regulations.

Gerald DeFelicis Jr., a landscape architect and planner with Schoor DePalma, Manalapan, described the landscaping plan. He said plantings between the units will give some separation between the homes. He went on to describe buffer areas, types of grasses and vegetation in the area.

DeFelicis said there will be no pesticide treatment in the rear of the property units, so the area that is adjacent to an infiltration swale area will not receive any pesticides. Only organic fertilizers will be allowed where there is a possibility of the material going into the infiltration swale.

Board member Blanche Krubner questioned the use of pesticides and DeFelicis said the applicant's intention would be to limit pesticides as much as possible.

Rick Washik, of the Ocean County Sierra Club, asked who will police the use of pesticides and herbicides in the development.

Daines said a condominium association board of trustees will be responsible.

"So, basically, they're going to police themselves," Washik said.

DeFelicis said the common areas can be checked for areas that are different and "we can be on the lookout for individual homeowners who could be doing it independent of the common management of the property. That will be part of the certification."

Jackson resident Ellen Weissfeld asked about storm water management and what will happen to the landscaped semi-swamp when there is a drought.

DeFelicis said the swales are designed to standards that are established. Wet-site plants are plants that sustain drought, he said.

The Rev. Phillip Petrovsky of neighboring St. Vladimir's Church wanted to know if there would be any assurance that wells in the area would not be affected by the chemicals used to treat the grass at Jackson Valley.

Daines said there would be no impact on the wells and that all state regulations would be adhered to.

"So all the residents adjacent to your project can rest assured that the wells will never be polluted by your chemicals?" Petrovsky asked. "Is this what you are saying?"

"That is how the project has been designed and that is the way it will be," Daines responded.

Other topics discussed included the use of ground cover, plantings along the main entrance, chemical testing, the use of solar panels, what if the homeowners want changes in the future and whether there will be a community garden.

The environmental discussion was followed by testimony from Richard B. Reading, an economic analyst and consultant, on the financial impact of Jackson Valley.

"Essentially, the proposed development will generate on an annual basis $5.6 million in annual property tax revenues and then after an allocation of costs using an average cost basis we anticipate a surplus of $4.2 million," he said. "The primary beneficiary will be the Jackson school district, which would receive the surplus amounting to $3 million."

Reading said a December 2005 report was prepared with information that was current at the time. He said the figures would change over time as tax rates, assessment ratios and budgets change.

Testimony on the Hovbilt application is expected to continue at 9:30 p.m. at the board's Nov. 20 meeting.