Area 3 Meeting Minutes 1.29.2008

MEMORANDUM

To: File

FROM: Owen McCabe

DATE: January 31, 2008

RE: Country Lakes - Area #3 Meeting Minutes 1/29/2008

Circulation

• The residents stated that it is difficult to cross the intersection of Ridgeview Avenue and Lakehurst Road especially when heading eastbound on Ridgeview Avenue. The residents recommended that a traffic signal be installed.

• There are light timing issues at Lakehurst Road and Firehouse Road and at Lakehurst Road and Choctaw. The residents recommended that the traffic signals on Lakehurst be re-timed.

• Lakehurst is a major thorough-fare street. Residents feel that peak travel hours are 7:00 am - 8:00 am and from 3:00 pm-5:30 pm. They recommended that the County conduct traffic counts during these hours.

• The residents believe that the proposed Senior Development (Pemberton Pines) will contribute more to traffic on Lakehurst then originally anticipated.

• One resident opined the County should consider a rotary on Lakehurst to resolve some of the traffic issues on Lakehurst. According to the resident, the rotary is more environmentally sensitive. Other residents were skeptical of this approach.

• Residents from Presidential Lakes use Spring Lake and Choctaw as cut-through streets to get to Lakehurst Road and downtown Browns Mills. The residents recommended creating roads in the State Forest to alleviate some of the traffic problems in Country Lakes. The residents recommended that the residents from Presidential Lakes be required to use Junction Road, Mt. Misery Road or Magnolia Road as access streets to Lakehurst Road or downtown Browns Mills instead of cutting through Country Lakes.

• The residents suggested the Township look into paving unimproved roads in the Township to improve circulation.

• The residents asked if the County could take over the maintenance of Choctaw Road.

• The residents requested sidewalks be installed in Country Lakes and along major roads.

• The residents recommended installing weight restrictions on Choctaw and any other street with a bridge/dam crossing.

• Some residents recommended changing road directions on Lakehurst during certain hours of the day; although this was not a consensus by any means.

Sewer and Dams

• Some houses are on septic but the majority of homes are on public sewer. There are several homes in Country Lakes that are below the lateral line elevation and are not tied into the Township’s sewer system.

• Pemberton adopted an ordinance in 1979 that requires all homes be tied into the Township’s sewer line.

• Heavy vehicles impact the Choctaw Dam. Colony Lake’s Dam does not appear to function properly. Split Rock Road may be impacting the dam. Long Lake is filling-in due to sediment. The residents asked about a lake maintenance program.

• DPW does monitor the lakes when a storm is coming. However, some of the sluice gates do not work in Country Lakes.

• The Township engineer is presenting to the community on 2/11/08 a report on the dams.

• Bog water may be impacting the dam. It was suggested that a direct line of communications between Whites Bogs and the Township occur to coordinate water release dates.

Code Enforcement

• There are too many junkyards in Area #3. The residents do not want anymore junkyards. They want the Township to study if the junkyards are releasing pollutants into the ground. Residents with well water are concerned.

• The residents are concerned about the pesticides and other contaminants in the lakes. They suggested a study should be done to test the water quality in the lakes and the sediment at the bottom of the lakes.

• The residents would like to restrict ATV and motorcycle activities in the woods. Parents with small children have safety concerns.

Businesses

• The residents of Country Lakes do not want to become the “old” Wrightstown. It is going to be hard to compete with the Mega Base and the “new” Wrightstown. The Township and the Pinelands Commission should be more business friendly.

• “People are no longer retiring to Pemberton. We need to make this a place to live.”

• “There are plenty of families on the Mega Base. We need to get them to move to Pemberton.”

• The residents would like a family style restaurant such as a Chili’s or Applebee’s.

Recreation

• The residents suggested supervision at all parks. It is not safe to leave your children alone at the park. Safety is a real concern.

• There is a lack of transportation to the PAL fields. All soccer games occur at the High School. Country Lakes would like a general use field and other fields so they do not have to drive their children all over for fields.

• The residents suggested more playground apparatus at the tot lots.

• There should be more marketing of White Bogs and the Blueberry Festival as unique events of Pemberton.

• One suggestion was to reach out to the State Parks and create a partnership to develop some of their land into a recreation facility for Country Lakes and the Township.

• The residents want to know if the Township can sell some its vacant land along Lakehurst to reduce the Township’s tax burden. The Mayor mentioned that he has considered selling the land to Green Acres or developing them in recreation fields.

Miscellaneous

• Some of the residents would like to change their mailing address to Country Lakes. Is this possible?

• The residents would like a better gateway sign into Country Lakes.

Ragan Design Group 30 Jackson Road  Suite C-3  Medford, NJ 08055

Phone: (609) 654-8800 Fax: (609) 654-4664