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Environmental commission seeks OK to publish Anthony Preserve forest stewardship draft; town schedules well-testing event
Summary
Lebanon’s Environmental/Open Space Commission asked the committee to allow New Jersey Audubon’s draft forest stewardship plan for Anthony Preserve to be released for public review pending Planning Board and New Jersey Water Supply Authority sign-off; the committee agreed. The EOSC also announced a well-testing pickup/drop-off schedule in May.
Sharon Petzinger, chair of the Environmental/Open Space Commission, told the Township Committee on March 5 that New Jersey Audubon has submitted draft forest stewardship plans — one for Anthony Preserve and a municipal-wide stewardship master plan — created with a Highlands Council grant. Audubon requested an extension to complete the work through the end of 2025 at no extra cost, and Petzinger asked the committee to allow the Anthony Preserve draft to be made public for stakeholder and resident comment pending Planning Board and New Jersey Water Supply Authority review.
Petzinger said the draft was thorough and recommended the process: post the draft to the township website, notify residents, and hold a public comment session (the EOSC proposed its June 10 meeting as the forum). She outlined the related schedule for a well-testing event organized with the Hunter Headwaters Association: residents can pick up test kits on Saturday, May 3 and drop off samples on Monday, May 5, with discounted basic testing and optional tests for lead or PFAS. The committee voted to recommend releasing the Anthony Preserve draft for public review contingent on the other agencies’ endorsements.
Committee members discussed outreach methods — mailers, county printing services to reduce postage costs, posting notices online and use of QR codes — and asked the EOSC to coordinate a public-notice plan before release. The extension of the Audubon contract and the vote to release the draft were presented as administrative steps to advance the stewardship work; no additional township funds were requested at this meeting.
