Sourland Planning Council

Sourland Planning Council Candidate Questionnaire

Responses from Judd Mandell (I)
Candidate for Township Committee, Hillsborough Township

1) Do you know about and do you support the work of the appointed representatives of the 5 townships (e. Amwell, Hillsborough, Hopewell Township, Montgomery and W. Amwell) in developing a Comprehensive Management Plan for the Sourlands?

Yes, I’ve talked to Susan Gulliford who represents Hillsborough. It makes sense to have a regional management plan for the Sourlands because the entire surrounding area must make a concerted effort to provide lasting protection of the Sourlands. For instance, setbacks from wetlands and streams differ in each town’s ordinances and developers figure this out to their advantage. However the impact that development has on access to potable water and ensuing flooding is felt across the region.

2) Do you feel the current level of Open Space funding in your country or municipality should be a) increased b) stay the same, or c) be decreased or partially redirected for other purposes? How is this funding derived—from Open Space tax, from your capital funds, or other?

The funding for Open Space is a tax. The amount of Open Space in Hillsborough is comparable to 30% of the total acreage in Franklin. However, Franklin’s Open Space is enjoyed by more members of the public and has a management plan that the Environmental Commission put together. Franklin’s Open Space is clearly marked and used for educational purposes to encourage conservation. While our acquisition rate of Open Space is comparable to Franklin’s, we could do a better job to manage the land to the benefit of our residents.

3)Briefly describe your attitude and past involvement with the preservation of open space, wildlife habitat, natural resources, and/or places of historical significance in your township.

My family and I truly enjoy hiking in the Sourlands which are halfway between two major cities, New York City and Philadelphia. We feel transported into another world where the natural world is less affected by suburban developments. I am very supportive of preserving open space in a thoughtful way to consider wildlife corridors and contiguous space that provides capacity for wildlife.

Another consideration for open space would be to protect areas that recharge our water aquifers.

I am a landscape contractor with a degree in Environmental Planning and Design from Cook College and am also certified as an educator for sustainability that focuses on building sustainable yards that are easy to maintain. I recommend native plant species and offer edible and medicinal plantings that can be utilized by humans and beneficial species alike. I see what the natural world does to establish itself and mimic it in my designs and landscapes.

4) The current over-population of white tailed deer poses a serious threat to the Sourland ecosystem. We are in the process of developing a site-specific deer management plan. Can you support such a plan, and if so, what are the important issues we should consider?

Humans have caused the conditions that led to deer over-population. It’s responsible to develop a plan to bring balance back to our ecosystem. The impact of deer in the Hutchinson Forest, one of the last virgin forests in Central Jersey, has been studied over many years. In this forest, as well as large tracts of land such as Duke Farms, managing the deer population was essential to the survival of understory and young tree saplings to maintain the health of the land.

Overpopulation causes dangerous driving conditions and impacts the safety of both humans and deer. It also affects our farms’ productivity. There are successful deer management programs that we can learn from in order to tackle these issues.

Thank you for the opportunity to address these topics. They are near and dear to me..

Judd Mandell
Independent candidate for Township Committee in HillsboroughTownship 

Sustainable Summed Up: Community Action

In a constantly shifting global economy, communities must adapt to meet their needs today as well as prepare to meet the needs of future generations. Government policies at the local level affect education, transportation, construction, energy, finances, the environment and quality-of-life issues. With limited resources, how do local governments decide which projects to do? It is important to plan ahead, assessing the future consequences of current actions.

When towns have a clear vision, choices can be aligned with intended outcomes. Opportunities can be evaluated for their effectiveness, and those evaluations are made public. With this format, communities can learn.

Towns have committees to unite multiple perspectives. When the committees work together with interested townspeople to develop a clear, measurable and attainable vision, then communities can marshal the strengths of individuals in pursuit of targeted goals.

Sustainable development is a collaborative approach that includes an overall perspective that encompasses economic, social and environmental aspects. The method provides a process to align decisions towards the realization of a common vision.

Each individual in a community can be a responsible participant in the process of sustainable development in the local community. If your town does not have a vision, or it is out of date, get together with your friends and neighbors for a discussion, and speak with your mayor. Town meetings provide opportunities to be heard and hear from others. Citizens find out about town forums by contacting their local municipal offices. Another method for voicing opinions is voting and electing candidates that reflect and support passion and vision of community members. Writing editorials in newspapers, blogs or online forums is another vehicle for speaking out. Free speech is our right, and exercising it respectfully is one of the most important tools for sustainable development.

This article appears in the September 2012 issue of SOM

Sustainable Summed Up: Water

Water is essential to life. We drink it, bathe in it, clean with it, swim in it and unfortunately waste it. We turn on our faucets and let it run with more pressure and for more time than we often need. I remember growing up taking Florida showers in my grandparents house. Get wet, shut off the water, lather up, turn on the water, rinse off, get out! Efforts that previous generations used as standard practices were sustainable because they had to do more with less. We don't all have to abide by Pop-Pops' shower rule, but conservation practices can include reducing our use, utilizing rain harvest practices, and eliminating an over use of chemicals that eventually filter into our streams, rivers, and aquifers. Simple and attainable methods work best.

Landscape irrigation often results in excess runoff, leaking pipes and inefficient watering schedules. There are great systems for occasionally watering your yard, it doesn't have to be every Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 5 AM and Tuesday, Thursday at 3 AM as set on the timer. Responsible landscape planning can minimize the need for constant additional water and can utilize gutters and gray water for ultra efficient water management systems. Compounding these practices with selecting native plant species that require little more than average rainfall can also ease your maintenance burden. The native wildflowers like Cosmos, Lupine and Baby Blue Eyes we grew from seed are much more tolerant of the summer heat stress than the 'Nikko Blue' Hydrangeas that brown and curl without frequent douses. Eastern Red Cedars are great evergreen tree options that easily tolerate our summers and winters.

Rain water harvesting can be as simple as barrels at the end of the downspout (with an overflow pipe 8' or more from the house) or as intricate as cisterns with pumps and piping. Another option is to attach perforated piping to the end of downspouts that will leach water around the planting beds and help distribute the roof water to where it is needed. These choices utilize your water on your property, reduce erosion around the home, and help protect your foundation from mold and concrete decay. 

Chemical applications applied to trees, shrubs, and lawns eventually wash down into our sewers, streams and rivers. This is highly visible in ponds where algae grows exponentially due to too many nutrients and a lack of oxygen. These pollutants kill our fish, increase mosquito activity, and damage a healthy ecosystem.  Reduce your landscapes chemical dependency with companion plantings, use dishwashing soap and water spray to eliminate aphids ( vegetable oil and garlic can be added for more strength), and seek out native plants that are less susceptible to disease. White Oak and Fringe Trees are great choices for New Jersey, they are sustainable and beautiful.

Sustainable Summed Up: Plans

 Experience counts when building a plan. It applies to financial plans as well as landscape plans. Successful planning integrates hindsight and foresight to achieve a specific set of goals. Essentially, we want our entities to grow, provide us with enjoyment and not become a burden. A sustainable landscape plan will properly address downspouts, drainage, setting, soil, style, tolerance for weeds and budget. A well-seasoned and knowledgeable landscape designer/contractor will plan for a landscape that protects the family and home from harm, allows for future growth, and can be enjoyed physically, mentally and spiritually by all who utilize the space. Each yard and family has unique challenges and opportunities, but the basic principles of proper planning always apply. It is important to recognize potential threats before they do costly damage. Design the downspouts to outlet the water where it is needed and not near the foundation. The gutters can be connected to a flexible, perforated pipe that is wrapped in a permeable sleeve and laid out around the garden beds to slowly irrigate the plants. Make sure to have an open outlet at the end to eliminate clogging. Rain gardens are a great addition to home landscapes. They address drainage, help provide localized flood control, and encourage healthy habitats for butterflies, bee pollinators and a great variety of birds. Rain gardens differ from retention basins because the water infiltrates the ground within a day or so, which doesn't allow mosquitoes to breed. The geographic location of a property determines the setting and existing soil. It is difficult to change the terrain of a yard, but it is possible. In most cases, the setting of the house on its property is accepted. The design is created around its challenges. The topsoil can always be amended if soil tests show any deficiency in nutrients or harmful contaminants. The landscape plan addresses the style of the home as well as the client’s preferences. It is the designer’s task to balance the plan to blend both, as sometimes they are not aligned. A good designer will provide native plants that grow with low maintenance, maintain a safe distance of trees and shrubs from around the foundation of the home, and build a great looking, long lasting landscape. A successful plan can offer ground covers to reduce weeds over time, or it can call for heavy-duty landscape fabric and mixed size gravel to eliminate weeds from the beginning. The budget will determine whether a project can be completed all at once or in phases. It is the duty of the designer to achieve success, through successful planning.

Sustainable Summed Up: Plantings

Planting with a purpose and goal is an effective strategy for responsible landscaping. Consider the reason you are planting a tree before you choose one based on its pretty flowers the day you walk into the nursery. To be wooed by a beautiful tree is understandable, but a smart planting design is key to a sustainable landscape. A well placed shade tree can cut your electric bill in summer months while allowing the sun to warm the same windows in the winter. Evergreen trees are wonderful wind blocks, as well as screening against roads and nosey neighbors. The right tree in the right spot will pay dividends for its life.

There are many invasive species of plants being sold as ornamental trees and shrubs. Norway maples were introduced in the 1700s but did not emerge as problematic until the turn of the 20th century. They now frequently invade forests, create a dense shade, and spread their shallow roots, which cause losses of diversity of native understory wildflowers. Consider planting a white ash or a red oak instead. Burning bushes were introduced in the mid-1800s and are beautiful in the fall. Unfortunately, they invade forest edges, roadsides and yards. They form dense thickets which displace native vegetation. There are plenty of other great choices to plant instead. Try fothergilla or viburnum.

Tree farms and nurseries are stocked with many varieties and species of fruit, flowering, pollinating and purposeful trees. It is important to understand the growth habit and nutritional needs of plants to properly display the trees best attributes and to give it room to grow. That is a benefit both you and the tree will enjoy. A knowledgeable nursery is beneficial to its customers as well as its plants. They can be helpful letting you know before you plant a fruit bearing peach tree, that garlic and nasturtium are great companion plants. The garlic will repel aphids, mites and Japanese beetles. Nasturtium will deter white flies, squash bugs and wooly aphids. Companion plantings will help attract beneficial insects and help avoid the use of pesticides. Lavender will attract butterflies while ridding the area of ticks and mice. Get the most out of your plant purchases by either learning companion plantings or by hiring a very knowledgeable contractor.

Sustainable Summed Up is a series by Judd Mandell, owner and operator of Landscape Better LLC.