Wednesday, Februai

nary t

Wild Orchi

25, 1981 -

Now on Record

The Herald and The Lantern

Page 27

CAFRA Hearing Latest Hurdle for Mobile Home Park

Mickfl's Run in parly summer’verdurp.

by Jane Tanakovlc FISHING CREEK-The Lower Township Environmental Commission submitted a letter citing the "vague and inconclusive” plant list of developer John N. Davis II, at the Feb. 17 CAFRA hearing for his proposed Bayshore Woods Mobile Home park. If approved, the 35-acre development on two adjoining lots north of Mickel’s Ron, adjacent to BayshorejRd. opposite Breakwater Rd., will contain 100 units on 20 acres within the tract. ENVIRONMENTAL Commission chairman Robert Imler said that two species of wild orchids on New Jersey's endangered list were omitted from the Environmental Impact Statement — a part of the CAFRA application prepared by Altman Thomas Swidersky and Jos. L. Lomax & Asso. These and other plants along Mickel’s Run which were also omitted could be

‘The Bird

by Jane TanLskovic, MIDDLE TWP^ - Cape May County was cited as both hn inspiration and an object lesson by Gay Sutton. in his presentation ‘The Kites of the Santee" at the Wetlands Institute last Saturday. Mr Sutton, biologist, photographer and life-long resident of Ihe county, in dicated that his sightings of two species of kites-large inseet : cating hawks—in Cape May had prompted his - explorations of the "watery world" of the Santee River delta of South. Carolina. * WHILE THAT AREA is no logger wildemesa, he illustrated a variety of habitats, such as cypress and hardwood swamps, cat-tail marshes, freshwater lakes and ponds, forests and farm fields extending from the edges of wetlands, which suppprt a diversity of wildlife and plants. Many of these habitats and species are similar or identical to those found, or once found, in Cape May County and the Pine Barrens. Hence, a related reason for studying the region, he

destroyed by ditching and/or the removal of protective vegetations , Imler suggested installation of a small-mesh permanent metal fence along Mickel’s Run. This would help the already "precarious condition” of the stream by protecting the vegetation during construction and preventing additional trash and debris from accumulating in the stream, which could inv pede the flow of water vital to the plants. DEVELOPER DAVIS had, indicated he would take measures needed to protect the endangered plants — if such measures were financially feasible. He pointed out at the hearing, however, that since he would be required to grant the county a 2.ift. easement along Mickel’s Run for access for drainage and cleaning, he wound no longer have control of this area where most (but not all) of the endangered plants are located.

We Almost said, was to discover what southern New Jersey had once been like. IN ILLUSTRATING the largest Osprey colony in South Carolina on a reserve owned by the Nature Conservancy. he commented on the bird’s status here. Terming it "a bird we almost lost,” he said there had been some 450 nests in the county in the 18<fc>'s. Victims of both habitat destruction and pesticides, espreys had dwindled to a low of 11-12 nests, but as a result of the ban oh DDT the species is recovering to the point that there arfcuow 40-50 nests here. « Bald Eagles, the national emblem, are still quite-,, common in the Santee delta area. There were once 10 . nests in Cape May Counfy. There is one nest left in New Jersey, but the. Cumberland County site is severely threatened. WHILE THE Mississippi and Swallow-tailed kites have their strongholds in the Soufll, they have been sighted annually during late spring in recent years at Cape May. Mr. Sutton described the flight of the Swalldw-tailed Kite as an exemplar of grace, and

Both Charles Durfer, the CAFRA hearing official, and David Rutherford, representing the Cape May County Planning Board, expressed concern with a possible ever-commitment of facilities by the township MUA for Davis’ — as well as other — proposed developments. Durfor said an analysis of the actual MUA facility was needed to determine whether MUA "commitments” for water and sewerage were justified. Project engineer Terry Thomas said he could only support efforts to provide the requested analysis, which would have to be furnished by the utility itself. WHILE THERE was no public comment at the CAFRA hearing, local opposition to the project had been Vpiced during two Zoning. Board of Adjustment hearings last sum,mer. W. Scott McGonigle, a resident of neighboring Baywood Park — which

Lost’ ,said these birds spend -all day on the wiqg, even while feeding. Nearly extinct at the turn of the century,(the birds’ sighting here have led him to speculate that they represent the vanguard of a range expansion in the Northeast', or a possible colony in some suitable section of the Pine Barrens, whose habitat parallels their habitat io South Carolina. •‘THE SKY IS always full of birds—it’s a whole other world when you look up," Mr Sutton said of the* Santee Delta. He conclud ed. however, with a reminder of k ‘the real oh jdet lesson to lie learned;" In Cape May COunty much critical habitat has already beer destroyed, and therefore it jvill be crucial to protect what’s left. Mr. Sutton is Director of Environmental Health for the county, and ap adjunct faculty member at Stockton College. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the N.J. Audubon Society. His program "The Kites of the Santee" will be repeated during the summer Idcture series of the Cape May Geographic Society.

does not receive water and sewer service from the MUA - felt that the utility should take care of existing developments before making new commitments. He also questioned the wisdom of adding housing restricted to senior citizens. A reasonable mix of ages is a key factor in insuring the basic sociological health of a community, he had said, citing figure indicating Lower Township already had a disproportionable percentage of its population over 65. he claimed the area didn’t have adequate medical facilities, especially for senior citizens, and said it was already dificult to get budgets for the school system approved. MR. DAVIS maintained that Bayshore Woods would be a good project for Lower Township because it would provide 100 new lowto moderate- income homes with no children. He indicated that he had received over 30 inquiries about the units from township residents who he sard, wpould like' to sell their present homes and be able to go to Florida. David estimated that with the sale of a bouse averaging $70,000, a balance of*$30,000 would remain aftef purchase of one ofjiis new sites and the accompanying mobile home. The balance could be in vested, and he said one of the services of Bayshore Woods would be an invest-

ment counselor. Davis felt that at least 40-60 percent of the new condominium units would be sold to buyers living within a 25-mile radius. MR. McGONIGLE told The Herald and Lantern recently that he felt there was already a substantial amount of low-income housing in'the Villas area, which is now being wellmaintained by a stable community of predominantly retired residents, he said he feared

the whole area might deteriorater if these residents, attracted by the moderate costs for pur chase and maintenance of the mobile units, sold their homes to people ffom ur ban areas with several children, who might find it difficult to afford to proper ly maintain these older homes in good condition He suggested this potential woyld more than offseLthe benefits to the township of an increased tax base from the 100 new units. Projects

DOT Ready for Cape RojJd

. TRENTON — As a result of the passage of the Hi79 Transportation Bond Issue, work has begun oh major road projects in Cape May County, according to the state *DeOt. of Traasportatmn f Cbnstruction will begin this Spring for safety improvements at Rt f09 ,-fnri (>cean Dr. in Lower Township, at the northern approach to the Cape May Canal bridge (at the end of the Garden State Pkwy. > , A pedestrian bridge over the Garden State Pkwy in the vicinity of Atlantic Ave. in Middle Township will be completed bySeptember.

Final design is underway for minor widening, resurfacing and drainage irn pnnements from Pacific Ave to Stone Harbor Dr.. Court House PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING h. begun for minor alignment and replace ment of a bridge over Bidwells Creek on Route 47 from Hand Ave to Goshen Rd in Upiper Township Final design also is underway -to construct left turn slots and passing lanes <*n Route 50 at County Route 31 in Upper Township In addition to the wbrk on these state highways, the Bond Issue has already pro vided over a half million dollars for road improvement projects On county and municipal roads in the county. The state aid portion of the bond issue has been in great demand, with $450 million worth of applications from local governments for the $48 million available from the bond issue for ijhe new program

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