The Hopewell Township Planning Board amended and approved changes to the 2004 Open Space and Recreation plan at its June 28 meeting.
Although a short meeting, the Board discussed the changes, heard from members of the public, and discussed the formation of a subcommittee comprised of members other Township committees to aid in passing the plan.
“We are going to form a subcommittee to kind of team up with the Environmental Commission, the Recreation Committee, and the Open Space Committee to take a look at the Open Space plan and the goals and objectives moving forward in light of that whole inventory collection and report that we just approved,” said Chairwoman Karen Murphy.
While most of the changes were minor, such as typos and incorrect acreages, the dialogue surrounding the plan came largely with public suggestions and comments.
Lisa Wolff, executive director of Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, stated her concerns with the document, specifically lack of nonprofit organization participation in the document, despite a large portion of the Township being nonprofit-owned open space.
“We are the only nonprofit out there that is completely dedicated to preserving open space throughout Hopewell Valley,” Wolff said. “So, as such, I think we deserve at least one sentence.”
The Board agreed with her concern, and added to its resolution that it would look closer at the suggestions from the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space when amending the plan in the future.
The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for July 26 in the Municipal Auditorium.
