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Pinelands appears to approve 16-acre solar project; committee discusses lighthouse stabilization and harbor study
Summary
At the June 15 meeting officials said Pinelands approved a 16-acre solar project; the committee also reported a Congressman is pursuing lighthouse stabilization with NJDEP and asked the Army Corps to use the CAP14 program, and a study is underway to deepen the river entrance.
Township officials told the Maurice River Township Committee on June 15 that the Pinelands Commission appears to have approved a 16-acre solar project on the Tatleaux site. Mayor Ken Whildin said a new LLC created for the Tatleaux site includes the wording "Maurice River Township," and Solicitor Justin White noted that any solar development larger than 16 acres would require a redevelopment plan.
Whildin also said he met with U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew about stabilizing the lighthouse; Van Drew is coordinating with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Mr. Whildin said the Congressman is asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to apply the CAP14 program for the site. Monica Chasten is working on a study to deepen the entrance to the river, Mr. Whildin told the committee.
Why it matters: Pinelands approval clears a regulatory hurdle for the local solar project, but larger-scale development would trigger additional local planning requirements. Simultaneously, federal and state attention on lighthouse stabilization and a harbor entrance study could affect shoreline infrastructure and navigation safety.
Next steps: The committee noted the Pinelands action and said that any project exceeding 16 acres would need a redevelopment plan; the town will monitor the lighthouse stabilization efforts and the river entrance study.
