Town of hammonton atlantic county
Balanced Land Use Guidelines
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- Atlantic County Recreation / Open Space Master Plan
- Region 2015 Total Population 2015 Total Percentage
- Range Number Percent of Community Population
- Hammonton School District (Hammonton Residents Only)
- Potential Open Space Acquisitions
- Site Descriptions – Future Parcel Acquisitions
- Acquisition and deed restriction of the referenced parcels would add approximately one hundred and twelve (112) acres to the Towns existing open space / recreation inventory.
- Active Recreation Facilities
- Short Term Actions 1 – 2 Years
- Medium Term Actions 2 – 6 Years
- Long Term Actions Beyond Six (6) Year Horizon
Balanced Land Use Guidelines
The Balanced Land Use Guidelines are a means of estimating the amount of recreation land that should be set aside by the various levels of government in New Jersey to provide recreation opportunities for the existing and future residents of the state. The figures produced represent only minimum goals for recreation land acquisition programs. In order for public open space areas to be considered as supply toward meeting the Balanced Land Use goals, the area must be environmentally suitable for the recreation activities generally provided by the particular level of government. Additionally, one level of government may compensate for another less active or inactive level of government by providing appropriate recreation lands." Atlantic County Recreation / Open Space Master Plan The 2000 Atlantic County Open Space and Recreation Plan contains policy goals and implementing objectives that have functioned to assist the Town in attempting to both acquire new sites for active/passive recreation, as well as optimizing the use of existing facilities. Atlantic County has historically seen its role as providing large regional parks focused primarily on passive, low impact activities and water access, where possible. While this has included the acquisition and development of large, well maintained and operated facilities such as Lake Lenape Park in neighboring Hamilton Township and Estell Manor Park in the City of Estell Manor, no facilities of this type or scale have been developed in the western portion of the County, including Hammonton. In 1990, Atlantic County implemented an Open Space Tax, a levy which has fluctuated, and now stands at $0.02/$100.00 of assessed valuation. This revenue has gone into a fund utilized in the past for outright acquisition and/or for the local match with available Green Acres funding for acquisition purposes. One of the stated Goals in this County Plan has been to provide additional local assistance, as stated on page 24 within the Goals and Policies Section: "…In order to maximize efforts for municipal acquisition of Parkland and development of recreation areas, it is recommended that the County continue to support the maximum rates for the County Open Space Trust and develop a program whereby a portion of the Open Space Tax funds would be made available to local governments." Since 2004, the County has offered funding through the Municipal Open Space Financial Assistance Program described in the brochure in Appendix E of this report. At this point, the Town has successfully applied for both acquisition and park development funding from this program over the past four (4) years. The demographic data compiled as a component of this Plan, depicted below, displays how the Town is included within the western "Rural Region" which is projected to account for only about 18% of the County's total population by 2015. Given this trend, it can be expected that the County will continue to focus proactive acquisition and development projects in the Regional Growth and Shore Region communities given their population densities and increased demand for open space.
Source: South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization Local Priorities In concert with the referenced State and County guidelines and recommendations to be utilized as relative goals, specific open space objectives were assessed through outreach efforts with elected and appointed municipal representatives. These included Town Council, the Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board and the Environmental Commission. It was accepted that these bodies would be better able to judge the practical components of open space acquisition. These parcels are detailed within the Resource Assessment beginning on Page 22. Potential uses for acquired properties were gathered during the Public Visioning Forum and via completed questionnaires. A copy of the distributed Recreation and Open Space Questionnaire is attached in Appendix D. Recreation priorities were also derived primarily from completed Recreation and Open Space Questionnaires, the Public Visioning Forum and input from the above mentioned municipal representatives. The data from the questionnaires identified a consensus on the creation of a bike path network and a greenway network. The public also strongly supported the concept of an indoor swimming pool, a dog park, tennis courts and picnic areas. A synopsis of these results is provided below. Information received and tabulated from these Community representatives prioritized the following active recreation facilities for development within the Community: 1. Recreational Priority Highest 1 to Lowest 11 Bikeway Development 1 Soccer Fields 2 Street Hockey 3 Swimming Pool / Swimming Activities 4 Alternative Sports Facilities (Skateboarding…) 5 Basketball Courts 6 Softball Fields (Men) 7 Tennis Courts 8 Baseball Fields 9
Dog Park
Picnic Areas Arboretum Community Garden Creative Playground Structures Teen Center 2. Age Group Priority – In terms of specific age groups seen as requiring attention with regard to the development of facilities, the tabulated results included the following: Age Groups Priority 1 – 5 1 18 – Adult 2 15 – 18 3 10 – 15 4 5 – 10 5 60+ (Seniors) 6 As noted, a copy of the Questionnaire provided has been included in Appendix D. In addition to the summarized response data listed above, local demographic data generated by the US Census Bureau, as well as the South Jersey Planning Organization (SJPO) and local School Board, has been reviewed. These data sets reflect a relatively stable community with regard to total population. Statistical growth estimates provided by the SJPO out to year 2030 display Low, Moderate and High rates of growth. These include a High estimate of 18,210 persons residing in the Community to a Low of 13,460, which represents a slight decline in population compared with current levels. More importantly, the 2000 Census in the Community's demographic profile estimated, at that point, over 77% of persons residing in the Community were over the age of eighteen (18). Below that age level, specific younger age ranges reflected generally equal group sizes:
Current enrollment (2008) data for the local school district also reflects a fairly even distribution of age groups within the Community, as noted below:
Appendix E of this report includes copies of demographic data on the Community generated by the various agencies noted. 6.0 RESOURCE ASSESSMENT: The assessment of lands with open space and recreation potential and interest, and this lands ability and opportunity to meet the public's needs. As an extension of both the current inventory of open space and recreation areas/facilities and the generated Needs Assessment information, future parcel acquisition priorities were established in order to meet projected needs. These parcels are depicted graphically on the parcel map in Appendix A of this report entitled: Potential Parcel Acquisitions – Open Space and Recreation Areas – Town of Hammonton. For a number of these parcels, the acquisition process has already been initiated through the forwarding of a series of comprehensive annual applications to the Atlantic County Board of Freeholders County – as components of the Municipal Open Space Partnership. This County-operated program solicits applications from municipalities within its jurisdiction for open space acquisition and recreation facility development funding generated via the County's open space levy ($0.02/per $100.00 of assessed valuation). The municipalities, once selected for participation, must sign agreements with the County to solicit and complete requisite land appraisals, environmental audits, and boundary surveys as the municipal share of the costs involved for which the County provides partial reimbursement covering acquisition and/or development funding. A description of this program has been attached in Appendix F. Potential Open Space Acquisitions Keyed to Municipal Map in Appendix A.
Site Descriptions – Future Parcel Acquisitions The following narrative provides a description of the parcels listed as potential acquisition sites to expand the Town's open space inventory. Site-specific Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping of each of these sites has been included in Appendix G of this report. 1.) Walmer Street Parcel – Block 3001, Lot 42 ~ 7.4 Acres: This wooded parcel situated in proximity to Hammonton Lake Park comprises the headwater area of Fowler Creek, a major tributary of Hammonton Lake. Acquisition of this parcel would expand the Town's passive open space inventory with potential development of a trail system connecting the developed Walmer / Third Street neighborhood with Hammonton Lake Park and the Smith Conservation Area. The provision of publicly-owned wooded open space within this densely urbanized portion of the Town also has aesthetic, as well as ecological benefits. 2.) Grand Street Parcel – Block 3706, Lot 4 (Portion) ~ ±60 Acres of ±83 Acre Parcel: This parcel includes expansive freshwater wetlands and densely wooded uplands traversed in an east-west fashion by a former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Rail Line. The acquisition of this parcel would substantially expand the Town's inventory of passive open space within the intensively developed Pinelands Town Area of the community. Potentially, the previously developed rail right-of-way could be redeveloped as a pedestrian/bikeway providing access to a variety of indigenous habitats. 3.) St. Martin's Parcel – Block 3001, Lot 41 (Portion) ~ ±5 Acres of ±7.5 Acre Parcel: This triangular parcel comprises the majority of the undeveloped portion of the St. Martin's Roman Catholic Church parcel. Acquisition would both increase the protected green space in proximity to Hammonton Lake Park and allow potential extension of a pedestrian/off-road bicycling trail from the Walmer Street parcel. 4.) Boyer Avenue Recreation Site Parcel, 7th Street, Block 4204, Lot 28 ~ 0.24 Acres: This small parcel currently accommodates an abandoned dwelling and is situated directly adjacent to the Town's expansive Boyer Avenue Recreation Site. If acquired, the structure could be rehabilitated and utilized as administrative space and equipment storage for the adjacent active recreation facility. 5.) Boyer Avenue Recreation Site Parcel, 7th Street, Block 4204, Lots 26 & 27 ~ 0.61 Acres: Adjacent to the parcel described above, these two (2) small parcels are currently vacant uplands, wooded parcels situated directly adjacent to the Town's Boyer Avenue Recreation Facility. Acquisition would allow use of the parcels to expand the natural wooded buffers between the developed recreation facility and residential uses situated along Moss Mill Road in proximity. 6.) Linda Avenue Parcel, Block 3505, Lot 11 ~ 2.05 Acres: This parcel lies astride Cedar Branch, a major tributary within the Mullica River Watershed in proximity to the Hammonton Middle School site. The site, although small, comprises a variety of habitats, inclusive of a riverine wetlands, ecotone and wooded uplands. Currently vacant, a low-impact, passive use is proposed, such as an outdoor recreation center for Middle and Senior High School students. 7.) Central Avenue Parcels, Block 3301, Lot 68 (Portion) & Lot 70 ~ ±6.0 Acres: These vacant parcels situated just off Central Avenue within an intensively developed Pinelands Town Area are surrounded by single and multi-family residential uses. Their uplands situation and fact that both tracts have historically been cleared, graded and are currently maintained as large, managed turf areas could accommodate low impact amenities, such as a pedestrian walking trail, as well as a tot lot/playground for younger children. 8.) 8th Street / Reading Avenue Parcel, Block 4007, Lots 5, 6 & 7 ~ ±17 Acres: These vacant parcels are contiguous and together comprise a potential acquisition of over seventeen (17) acres of mature woodlands. Portions of the overall tract are comprised of regulated wetlands and potential development would be limited to low impact activities, such as bikeway and/or nature trails and limited parking access. Reading Avenue Parcel, Block 4102, Lot 10 ~ ±9.0 Acres: Similar to the parcels described above, this vacant parcel represents the potential to substantively increase the acreage of preserved land within the Pinelands Town portion of the Community. As a maturely wooded parcel, potential uses would involve low impact activities such as walking/bicycling via trail development and limited passive uses such as a dog park area. Acquisition and deed restriction of the referenced parcels would add approximately one hundred and twelve (112) acres to the Town's existing open space / recreation inventory. 7.0 IMPLEMENTATION ACTION PLAN: A program of actions to guide the orderly and coordinated execution of a plan's goals and policies. The Town historically authorized formation of a Parks and Recreation Committee with representation from Town Council. This group meets monthly to discuss operation, use and capital funding for the Town's recreation sites. The Committee also annually makes recommendations to Council regarding both capital and operating needs with regard to recreation facilities within the Community. The Town Environmental Commission also works closely with Council on prioritization of parcel acquisitions to expand the Town's inventory of passive open space. Current Priorities Currently, Council has authorized municipal funding for the design of recreation and supportive capital improvements at both Hammonton Lake Park, as well as the Boyer Avenue Recreation Complex. Beyond funding directly through the municipal budget, Council has also authorized a "payment in lieu of" option for developers of residential properties within the Community. This local regulation put into place in 2006 requires developers to pay $5,000.00 per residentially-developed lot into the Community's central recreation fund in lieu of installing recreation amenities on-site. This fund may only be utilized for parcel acquisition and development of recreational amenities at existing municipally-owned/maintained sites for the benefit of the entire Community. It should be noted that this procedure, similar to ordinance provisions in other communities throughout the State, has been aggressively challenged by the development community. Clearly, while new residential development continues to have an impact on the need for new and/or expanded open space and recreation amenities, this source of funding may no longer be viable based on recent litigation. Beyond these funding sources, as noted previously in this report, the Town has availed itself of Atlantic County's Municipal Open Space Partnership. This annually available funding source provides funding for participating municipalities within the County for the acquisition and development of parcels to meet both/either open space and active recreational needs. Over the past four (4) years, the Town has successfully solicited through this program approximately $1,000,000.00 for parcel acquisition and $400,000.00 for recreation development activities. With the adoption of this updated Plan, it is also envisioned that the Town will be in a more advantageous position in terms of leveraging its own funding for grant and/or low interest loan funding through the State or private conservation organizations for future acquisitions. 8.0 GENERAL OPEN SPACE SYSTEM MAP: A map of the open space and recreation system showing the location and general configuration of all existing public and private open space and recreation resources and sites identified as having open space and recreation potential. An Existing Open Space and Recreation Facility Map of the Community compiled utilizing the NJDEP-compatible geographic information parcel mapping system (GIS) has been attached in Appendix A of this report. This same base graphic additionally depicts projected parcel acquisitions throughout the Community. 9.0 ADDITIONAL PARCEL / DATA REQUIREMENTS: In order to assist in the maintenance of a Statewide Map of existing and planned open space, a NJDEP-compatible Geographic Information System (GIS) base mapping of open space resources within Hammonton has been attached as Appendix A of this report. 10.0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS: A discussion of the public participation process. This updated OSRP has had a number of public participation inputs during its compilation, inclusive of the following: 1.) Representatives of local government, Parks and Recreation Committee and Environmental Commission members were requested to complete questionnaires regarding the most pressing open space/recreation needs within the Community. 2.) Publicized open meetings with both the Town's Parks and Recreation Committee and Environmental Commission were held to discuss the report and solicit public comments. In both instances, representatives of Adams, Rehmann & Heggan Associates, Inc. (ARH) presented the community-wide graphic displayed in Appendix A of this report and provided testimony regarding open space and recreation planning and specific initiatives undertaken in order to meet future needs. 3.) An organized Public Visioning Session was extensively advertised and held at Town Hall on March 25, 2009, at which input from over thirty (30) local residents was heard. This meeting was chaired by Michael Hozik, Ph.D., Chairman of the Town's Environmental Commission. Dr. Hozik broke the residents into groups which then discussed in detail open space/recreation priorities for the Town in a cooperative manner. The results of the extensive input received at this meeting, as well as from the Town's online questionnaire regarding open space and recreation priorities have been included in Appendix D of this report. Copies of the legal notices advertising public meetings where comments were solicited from the Public on current / future Community open space / recreation amenities have been included in Appendix H. 11.0 PLAN ADOPTION: The Town's Planning Board has now been requested to adopt this updated OSRP Plan as an Element of the Town's current Master Plan. 12.0 PLAN SUMMARY This review and update of the Community's Open Space and Recreation Plan has again pointed up the unique nature of this Pinelands Community. As displayed on the municipal-wide graphic in Appendix A, the Town has significant open space areas outside of the designated Pinelands Town in the form of the forested, State-owned Wharton State Forest which comprises approximately 25% of the Town's total land area. Beyond this tract, Pinelands-mandated large lot zoning within the expansive Agricultural and Forest Districts generally situated in concentric zones outside the Pinelands Town Management Area constitutes approximately 40% of the Town's overall land area. The Pinelands Town Management Area representing the historic urbanized center of the Community comprises the balance of the Town's land area, as well as accommodating approximately 80% of its population. The Town's demographic profile displays a continuing need for active recreation facilities for youth sports programs. However, it also displays a significant need for attention to activities conducive to older adults and seniors geared to both couples and individuals, such as the development of the new Senior Center, Town-wide bicycle safe routes, nature trail and connecting sidewalk link, development for hiking, as well as sports such as tennis, swimming, etc. Acquisition of additional lands for ecological and passive recreation has been a priority focus of the Town's recent involvement with Atlantic County in the County's Open Space Partnership Program. Over the past four (4) years, the Town has filed successful acquisition applications for funding approximately one hundred three (±103) acres of lands within the Pinelands Town Area primarily for straight preservation and several with potential for low-impact uses. These parcels, noted on the Town-wide graphic in Appendix A, represent headwater protection, as well as flood hazard areas and several types of indigenous wetlands habitats. Potential passive uses proposed include: nature trail development for hiking, outdoor education, a dog park/run area, off road bicycling trails, etc. In summary, the overall objectives of the Plan noted in the following Recommendations include: Active Recreation Facilities Complete planned construction activities at both Hammonton Lake Park and Boyer Avenue Facilities and investigate municipal and organization use of Board of Education facilities as practice and overflow event sites. Passive / Low Impact Sites Prioritize and follow through on purchase and/or procurement of permanent conservation easements on parcels included in the Atlantic County Open Space Partnership. 13.0 RECOMMENDATIONS: The following recommendations are offered as a component of this OSRP with the objectives of expanding and enhancing the Town's open space and recreational resources. Action aimed at implementation of these and other initiatives will require a cooperative effort on the parts of Town Council, the Town's Parks and Recreation Committee and Environmental Commission, team sports organizations, such as the Hammonton Hawks Football Association, as well as Little League and Youth Soccer organizations. Acquisition incentives aimed primarily at preservation and/or low impact activities should be guided by input from the Municipal Environmental Commission. Short Term Actions ~ 1 – 2 Years 1.) Capitalize and complete site improvements at Hammonton Lake Park to formalize parking, improve internal site circulation for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians and reestablish and improve water access for low impact uses of Hammonton Lake, such as fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, etc. 2.) Procure all required land development approvals for the "build out" of planned active recreation facilities at the Boyer Avenue site and proceed to construction in a phased approach based on funding considerations and ongoing facility needs assessment. 3.) Continue to work with the Town's Parks and Recreation Committee, Environmental Commission and Hammonton Lake Water Quality Advisory Committee to effectuate improvements to the water quality of Hammonton Lake and enhance its recreation potential for low impact, non-degrading uses. 4.) Continue working with the Atlantic County Freeholder Board and Planning Department staff to procure funding for parcel acquisition for ecological and low-impact uses, as well as enhancement and expansion of active recreation sites. 5.) Continue support of State funding for farmland preservation efforts for parcels outside the Pinelands Town Management Area. 6.) Street tree inventory. 7.) Complete construction of Senior Center at Hammonton Lake Park (HLP). 8.) Investigate Little League project site and 9th Street site for potential uses. 9.) Construct / provide additional outdoor uses at HLP, i.e. Bocce court, beach volleyball. 10.) Seek public referendum to create Open Space and Recreation Fund and guiding committee. 11.) See grants to facilitate open space and recreation goals. Medium Term Actions ~ 2 – 6 Years 1.) Complete the relocation of all existing active recreation facilities from the 11th Street site to Boyer Avenue, allowing the 11th Street site to be integrated into the overall development scheme for the Business Park. This includes a new street or deck hockey facility, as well as assessing space requirements for a Skate Park facility. 2.) Integrate, through a formalized agreement, cross utilization of Town and available Board of Education active recreation facilities to optimize use and minimize duplication of facilities for adults and children. 3.) Formalize a bicycling/pedestrian access plan for the Community, highlighting links to be implemented and/or improved, aimed at connecting heavily utilized nodes such as Hammonton Lake Park with Downtown, as well as throughout the urbanized portion of the Community, inclusive of school sites. 4.) Capitalize on the revitalization of the downtown by integrating available off-street parking with clearly delineated pedestrian links to shopping, dining, downtown park areas, the new Municipal Complex and public transit facilities including fixed route bus and commuter rail stations. 5.) Investigate siting and costs associated with provision of a Community indoor recreation facility incorporating a variety of active recreation facilities, such as basketball, swimming, tennis, etc. This should involve discussions with the Board of Education on potential joint funding and use of such a facility for various youth/adult activities. 6.) Coordinate Town-directed activities aimed at remediation and clean-up of degraded sites within the Town with the Environmental Commission and Board of Education for both volunteers and environmental education opportunities. 7.) Establish information centers detailing recreation and open space enjoyment opportunities. 8.) Seek grants to facilitate open space and recreation goals. Long Term Actions ~ Beyond Six (6) Year Horizon 1.) Continue to review active recreation needs throughout the Community for team and individual participation and begin conceptual designs to meet recognized long term, active recreation needs. 2.) Continue to seek funding sources for open space and recreation initiatives. Download 323.28 Kb. Share with your friends:
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