Galloway Has Long List of Environmental Accomplishments

Jaclyn Rhoads, director of conservation policy for the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, offered up a comprehensive 90-minute PowerPoint presentation at the group’s special meeting on sustainability Wednesday night at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church.

Topics covered included the development of mixed use centers, the creation of paths for walking and biking, energy conservation and alternative energy solutions, initiatives for green building construction, water quality, conservation and storm water management.

Part of the discussion included a case study of Galloway Township’s environmental efforts.

The township has managed to complete a formidable list of accomplishments including: an Environmental Commission/Green Team; Sustainable Jersey certification; composting/native plant garden; a wind ordinance; a fertilizer ordinance; a rain sensor ordinance (so that sprinkler systems will not operate when it’s raining); a planned transit village (proposed for Pomona); a carbon footprint analysis (done by Richard Stockton College); a study of local restaurants supporting local farms (through purchases); the building of the Unitarian church (LEED certified); Absegami High School’s solar panels; and a future five-megawatt solar installation proposed to be installed on the landfill.

Galloway is one of only four communities who received the Silver Certificate from the Sustainable New Jersey program last year for its environmental efforts in 2009, and that brought a $10,000 grant funded by Walmart that is being used to conduct an Environmental Resource Inventory.

The discussion also focused on those things that need to be done to preserve open space in the community and the intelligent use of natural resources, historic preservation of sites deemed worthy of saving, the potential development of public transportation and an in-depth explanation of the Sustainable New Jersey program.

The purpose of the presentation was, “To provide Pinelands municipal officials, board members and decision-makers with a comprehensive overview of sound community design techniques that can be implemented in the Pinelands,” according to a brochure that was made available to audience members prior to the meeting.

Rhoads explained the concepts of smart growth, land conservation, site design and density for development. She also touched on topics including the Town Maker’s Guide that uses healthy building placement (in a new community), clustering (referring back to density of homes in a development) and other areas necessary for sustainable living.

As far as water conservation and protection, she said, “Water management for a community involves fertilizer limitations, reuse of wastewater, landscaping properly to reduce the size of lawns, the planting of drought-resistant native plants, water sensors that can help determine when watering irrigation is necessary, the creation of wetland buffer zones and the reduction in the use of pesticides.”

She then spoke at length about limiting impervious surfaces (roads and driveways), and the planting of so-called rain gardens (utilizing downspouts from buildings for necessary watering), roof gardens, flow-through planters, storm water planters and filtration trenches.

Other topics included historic preservation, the reuse of building materials and historic buildings being renovated in a public infrastructure that already exists in some communities.

The presentation also centered on the development of transit-oriented systems (bus and train). Galloway has such an area in Pomona, although it has yet to be developed.

The audience asked questions regarding so-called greenways—pedestrian walkways that limit automobile traffic—and rails-to-trails paths that convert abandoned train tracks to walkways and bike trails.

The presentation then moved onto energy sustainability utilizing solar panels, windmills, geothermal energy and methane capture.

One chart showed the difference between a white roof (only a 5 percent increase in surface temperature on a building based on air temperature) and a dark shingled roof (a 90 percent increase in air temperature on the roof’s surface).

Rhoads then illustrated the concept of LEED-ND, which stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development.”

She spoke on alternatives to conventional zoning, the use of prescriptive rather than proscriptive shapes in developments, pedestrian-scaled development (to encourage walking and biking), green building, environmental sustainability, and the difference between voluntary versus mandatory requirements in the community development process.

Rhoads ended her presentation with slides showing information on community grants, funding sources and links to various and helpful websites for communities that are seeking to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

For more information, contact the Pinelands Alliance at 609-859-8860 or visit pinelandsalliance.org.