U.F. awarded $7,000 grant for planning study

UPPER FREEHOLD - The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) has awarded Upper Freehold Township a $7,000 matching grant to conduct a septic capacity and groundwater supply analysis.

ANJEC, an organization with a mission to preserve and protect the environment, awards grants for vital projects across the state. The township's study is currently in progress and is expected to be completed by June 30. A public meeting on the project will be held sometime in March, according to a press release from the township.

Mayor Stephen Fleischacker, who is a former chairman of the Environmental Advisory Committee and co-author of the original grant application with Township Planner Mark Remsa, said in the press release, "I was elated that ANJEC found our application worthy of a $7,000 matching grant."

According to Fleischacker, ANJEC is partnering with the township to finance a study of the municipality's septic capacity, potential impacts on shallow groundwater, receiving streams and deeper groundwater supply system as part of Upper Freehold's master plan revision process.

"Their backing shows that the township is on the right track with its ongoing planning efforts," he said in the press release.

Fleischacker added, "It's great news for the residents of Upper Freehold Township because this critical work can now be performed at half the cost to local taxpayers."

The study consists of an analysis known as nitrate dilution. Remsa explained the value of the analysis in the press release.

"A nitrate dilution study focuses on one of the important principles known as 'planning within the carrying capacity of the environment,' " Remsa said in the press release. "It's a valuable planning tool for understanding potential impacts to groundwater under the current zoning scheme and comparing them with potential impacts under Smart Growth scenarios that the Planning Board is contemplating."

Remsa said the results of the study would be used in conjunction with other Smart Growth principles to prepare the township's master plan.

According to the press release, projected build-out capacity in other towns has often decreased due to studies of this nature.

Commenting on the need for the analysis, Jennifer Coffey, a Planning Board member and chair of the Environmental Advisory Committee said in the press release, "For quite some time, there has been an intense public debate on how to best maintain our community's rural character. This grant gives us the funds to study our groundwater supply and septic system impacts given a variety of zoning scenarios."

Coffey continued, "Armed with this knowledge, the community - rather than developers - can plan how best to preserve our rural future."

She said Upper Freehold is a "beautiful town filled with lush farm fields, sensitive forests and wetlands nestled in the center of our robust state."

"That makes Upper Freehold a desirable place to live, so there is intense development pressure on our community," she said. "I hope this grant will be an opportunity to listen to one another's aspirations and ideas so that we can protect this place we call home."