Vernon Township Environmental Commission
21 Church Street, P.O. Box 340, Vernon, NJ 07462
973.764.4055	fax 973.764.3273

Annual Report: 2004
Submitted to the Vernon Town Council, February 14, 2005

The Vernon Township Environmental Commission did, in the course of its duties during 2004, the following:

Reviewed all zoning and planning applications and amendments presented to it and forwarded comments as appropriate. A number of field/site walks were conducted in order to clarify existing site conditions, as necessary. Of particular interest were the Zoning Board applications for Spring Creek Holding/Shinnihon, and Jack O'Krepky. On the Planning Board side, the William Ludwig, James P. Smith, Mountain Creek Resorts, Mountain Gate LLC and the Weichert Realty applications were reviewed in depth, and are being followed as they continue.

Co-sponsored and participated in the planning of Earthfest 2004, as well as provided volunteer public service for the event.

Provided regular and special meetings, as required, to fulfill a successful grant application to and with ANJEC, to provide an updated - digital - Natural Resource Inventory. We have made presentation in a special meeting and before the Planning Board.

Performed, in cooperation with regional volunteers, a stream cleanup of the Wawayanda and Black Creeks (portion).

We have, when necessary, reported violations of freshwater protection to the DEP.

We have followed the "progress" of the proposed "Shade Tree Ordinance" and have/will continue to pursue enactment of some degree of Shade Tree protection.

We have maintained records of our meetings and activities and they are open to the public.

Respectfully submitted,
Craig S. Williams
Chairman