Egg Harbor Township committee introduces ordinance to designate Nature Reserve a passive park

Egg Harbor Township Committee on Monday introduced Ordinance No. 9, which would amend the township code to designate the Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve as a passive park area and set a public hearing for April 9, 2025, at 5 p.m.

The ordinance text was read into the record by Freeman, a township committee member, who said, “The purpose of this ordinance is to designate the Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve as a passive park area.” The ordinance would amend Chapter 165 (Parks and Recreation Areas), specifically subsections 165-3, 165-55 and 165-7, the reading says.

The measure was introduced by motion and approved on roll call to schedule the required public hearing. The roll call as recorded at the meeting showed Ellis, Hodgson, Walt, Marysberg and Primmler voting in favor of introduction. The hearing is set for Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., when the committee will accept public comment and consider final action.

Under the proposal, the reserve would be formally labeled a passive park area in the township code; the ordinance text read at the meeting did not specify construction plans or funding for new amenities, and no final land-use changes were adopted at introduction. Committee members did not debate amendments during the introduction; detailed policy or implementation steps were deferred to the public hearing.

The ordinance will return to the committee after the April 9 public hearing for further consideration and a possible final vote.