[Adopted 11-22-2004 by Ord. No. 0-19-04]
This area of land shall be known as the Poplar
Road Nature Sanctuary and is located and described as approximately
18 acres, located at the south side of Poplar Road, Block 1002, Lots
1.01 and 1.02, as shown and designated on the Township Tax Assessment
Map. This article shall regulate activity and conduct in the Poplar
Road Nature Sanctuary for the following purposes:
A.
The preservation and protection of natural open space,
including woodlands and wetlands.
B.
The protection of the Township's water supply, through
the reduction of litter and non-point-source pollution.
C.
The preservation of native and wild plant species,
including trees, shrubs and wildflowers, and the protection of native
and wild animal species.
D.
The maintenance of the property for passive recreation
and the health, safety and enjoyments of visitors, and for nature
education programs.
E.
The protection of Township property, such as structures,
utilities and signs.
F.
To help maintain the peace and privacy of adjacent
property owners and the value of their properties.
G.
To meet all the standards and requirements set forth
by the New Jersey Green Acres Program and its Bureau of Compliance
and Stewardship.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated.
Any person 18 years of age or older.
All fecal matter and excrement issuing from dogs or other
domestic animals.
A linear topographic depression with bed and banks of human
construction which conveys water to and from a site.
Any tamed animal, such as a dog or cat, which normally depends
on humans for food, shelter and care.
Putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the
handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
Any natural area that provides food, shelter, breeding or
nesting for wild animal species.
Any used or unconsumed substance or waste material which
has been discarded, whether made of aluminum, glass, plastic, rubber,
paper or other natural or synthetic material, or any combination thereof.
Any motor-powered conveyance, including, but not limited
to cars, trucks, motorbikes, motorcycles, motorized carts, scooters
and snowmobiles.
Describing a plant or animal species having originated, growing
or living naturally in a particular region.
Describing a plant or animal species which has successfully
adapted to an area in which it did not originally occur.
Any undeveloped parcel of land, including farms, ball fields,
watersheds and forests, generally used for the purposes of conservation,
recreation or agriculture.
Any nonactive and generally noncompetitive activity, such
as walking, hiking, jogging and bird watching, which does not involve
the use of thrown or propelled objects, like balls, disks or darts.
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
Nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible
and noncombustible wastes, such as paper, wrappings, cigarettes, tin
cans, yard clippings, leaves, wood, glass, bedding, crockery and similar
materials.
A natural watercourse through which water flows for at least
some part of the year.
Any combination of materials forming any construction.
Any animal typically found living in wild areas, but which
has been fed and cared for by humans.
An area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or
groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support and,
under normal circumstances, does support a prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including
but not limited to streams, ditches, ponds, swamps and swales.
Any conveyance with wheels, motorized or nonmotorized, including
bicycles, scooters and skateboards.
Any animal found living in natural areas which is not sustained
by the care and feeding of humans.
A natural area characterized by a dense growth of trees and
underbrush and which usually provides animal habitat.
A.
No person shall or permit another to:
(1)
Willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper
with or remove any bridge, pubic utility or part or appurtenance thereof,
sign, notice or placard, whether temporary or permanent, monument,
stake, post or other boundary marker or other structure or equipment,
facility or appurtenance whatsoever, either real or personal.
(2)
Dig in, regrade or damage in any way any path, trail
or access road.
(3)
Dig or remove any soil, rock, stones, trees, bushes
or plants, down-timber or other wood or material or make any excavation
by tool, equipment, blasting or other means or agency.
(4)
Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever
kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, or run or string
any pubic service utility into, upon or across the property.
(5)
Damage, cut, carve, treat with chemicals, transplant
or remove any tree or plant or willfully injure the bark or roots
or pick the stems, flowers, fruit or leaves of any tree or plant;
nor attach any rope, wire or other contrivance to any tree or plant;
nor dig in or otherwise disturb any stream, stream bank, ditch, swamp,
woodland or grassy area; nor impair the natural beauty or usefulness
of any area.
(6)
Climb any tree or walk, stand or sit upon signs, railings,
fences, monuments, markers or upon any other property not designated
or customarily used for such purposes.
(7)
Plant any tree, bush or plant or disperse or plant
any seeds.
(8)
Hunt, trap, fish or molest, harm, frighten, kill,
chase, tease, shoot or throw any objects at any animal, fish, reptile
or bird, or remove or possess the young of any wild animal or the
eggs or nest or young of any reptile or bird.
B.
No person shall throw, discharge or otherwise place
or cause to be placed in any pond, swamp, stream, ditch or storm sewer
or drain, or along the banks of such waters, any substances, matter
or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution
of said waters.
C.
No person shall have brought in or dump, deposit or
leave on the property any bottles, cans, broken glass, ashes, paper,
boxes, dirt, dead animals, leaves, clippings, wood, rubbish, waste,
garbage, refuse or trash. No such refuse or trash shall be placed
in any waters in or contiguous to the property but shall be carried
away from the park by the person responsible for its presence and
properly disposed of elsewhere.
D.
No person shall use any part of the property for the
purpose of eliminating bodily waste.
No person shall drive, park, stop or stand any
motorized, nonmotorized or wheeled vehicles, including bicycles, scooters
or skateboards or wheelchairs operated by the handicapped, on any
area of the property, including paths and trails, with the exception
of those individuals exempt.
All activities shall be limited to passive recreation
only. No person shall fly kites or model airplanes or take part in
the playing of any games involving thrown or otherwise propelled objects,
such as balls, Frisbees, horseshoes, darts or arrows, or any gun-propelled
objects, such as BB's, disks or paint balls.
A.
No person shall light or smoke any cigar, cigarette
or pipe or strike a match or use a lighter at any time on the property.
B.
No person shall have brought alcoholic beverages;
nor shall any person consume alcoholic beverages at any time on the
property.
C.
No person shall enter the property under the influence
of intoxicating liquor.
[Amended 2-14-2005 by Ord. No. 100-2005]
No person shall bring, be present, walk or allow
any dog, cat or other animal within the Poplar Road Sanctuary area.
A.
No person shall willfully kill, injure, harm, disturb,
handle or remove any wild animal, including birds, fish, reptiles,
amphibians, crustaceans or butterflies, nor willfully destroy or disturb
any nest, nesting area, shelter or habitat, including ponds, swamps
and streams.
B.
No person shall feed in any form, including fruit,
bread or birdseed, to any wild animal, including but not limited to
birds, squirrels, chipmunks and deer.
C.
No person shall introduce any nonindigenous animal
species to the property that is not native or naturalized to the wildlands
and watersheds.
A.
No person shall build or attempt to build a fire or
barbecue anywhere on the property.
B.
No person shall bring or have in his possession or
set off or otherwise cause to explode or discharge or burn any firecrackers
or other fireworks or explosives or flammable materials or discharge
them or throw them into any such area of the property from land or
highway adjacent thereto.
C.
No person shall burn any materials whatsoever, including
but not limited to matches, flares, candles and paper.
A.
No person shall sleep or protractedly lounge on benches
or other areas or engage in threatening, abusive or insulting or indecent
language or engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior that would
deprive any other person of legitimate and peaceful use of the property.
B.
No person shall engage in the playing of radios, CD
players or other electronic audio devices, not including cell phones
or walkie-talkies, without the proper use of headphones or earphones.
C.
No child or children under the age of 12 shall be
permitted entry to the property unless accompanied by an adult, who
shall be responsible for his, her or their behavior while on the property.
D.
No person shall:
(1)
Expose or offer for sale any food, article or things,
nor shall he/she station or place any stand, cart or vehicle for the
transportation, sale or display of any such article or thing.
(2)
Announce, advertise or call the public attention in
any way to any article or service for sale or hire.
(3)
Paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard,
advertisement or inscription whatever, nor shall any person erect
or cause to be erected any sign whatever on the property.
A.
Except for unusual and unforeseen emergencies, such
as fires, floods and storms, the Poplar Road Nature Sanctuary shall
be open to the public, resident or nonresident, from Sunday through
Saturday, sunup to sundown, after which no person shall remain on
the property. Municipal, county and state officials, public utility
workers or individuals hired by the state, county or Township of River
Vale may remain on the property in the execution of their duties to
work.
B.
A permit shall be required to be obtained from the
Township Clerk or Township Administrator for any organized activities,
not sponsored by the Township's Division of Cultural and Social Affairs
or other municipal department, to be held on the property by more
than six people.
C.
A person seeking issuance of permit hereunder shall
file an application with the Township Clerk or Township Administrator.
The application shall state:
(1)
The name and address of the applicant.
(2)
The name and address of the person, persons, corporation
or association sponsoring the activity, if any.
(3)
A description of the activity.
(4)
The day and hours for which the permit is desired.
(5)
An estimate of the anticipated attendance.
(6)
Any other information which the Township Clerk or
Township Administrator shall find reasonably necessary to make a fair
determination as to whether a permit should be issued hereunder.
D.
The Township Administrator or the Township Clerk shall
notify the Police Department and the Division of Cultural Affairs
when an application has been filed for use of the property and thereafter
issue a permit hereunder when he/she finds that:
(1)
The proposed activity will not unreasonably interfere
with or detract from the general enjoyment of the property by other
visitors.
(2)
The personal activity will not unreasonably interfere
with or detract from the promotion of public health, safety and welfare.
(3)
The proposed activity will not harm or unreasonably
disturb natural areas, wildlife habitat or wild animals.
(4)
The proposed activity will not entail unusual, extraordinary
or burdensome expense or police operation by the Township.
(5)
The property has not been reserved for other use at
the day and hour requested in the application.
(6)
The proposed activity will not violate any of the
provisions of this article.
E.
A permittee shall be bound by all property rules and
regulations and all applicable ordinances fully as though the same
were inserted in said permit(s).
F.
The person or persons to whom a permit is issued shall
be liable for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any person whatever
by reason of the negligence of the person or persons to whom such
permit shall have been issued.
G.
The Township Administrator or Township Clerk shall
have the authority to revoke a permit upon finding a violation of
any rule or regulation or ordinance or upon good cause.
H.
There shall be no fee for the application or permit.
Officers of the Township of River Vale Police
Department or any other authorized municipal official shall have the
authority to reject from the Poplar Road Nature Sanctuary any person
acting in violation of this article.
