The Conservation Commission heretofore established
is hereby reestablished and reorganized as the Environmental Commission
of the Township of Manchester pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
COMMISSION
The Environmental Commission of the Township of Manchester.
DEVELOPMENT
The division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels,
the construction, reconstruction, conversion, structural alterations,
relocation or enlargement of any mining excavation or landfill, and
any use or change in the use of any building or other structure, or
land or extension of land for which permission may be required pursuant
to the Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.)
MAYOR
The Mayor of the Township of Manchester.
The Environmental Commission shall consist of
five members and two alternate members (if such alternates are appointed)
to be appointed by the Mayor. One member shall be appointed to serve
as a member of the Manchester Township Planning Board, and one member
shall serve as Chairperson and presiding officer of the Commission.
There shall also be an appointment of a vice chairperson, each position
being held by a separate member. All members shall be residents of
the Township and shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter
provided.
The Commission may, subject to the approval
of the Township Council, acquire property, both real and personal,
in the name of the Township of Manchester by gift, purchase, grant,
bequest, devise or lease for any of its purposes, including but not
limited to use as living museums, sites for scientific study, areas
for teaching of natural history and conservation, place of historic
or prehistoric interest and scientific beauty and habitat for rare
and endangered plants and animals, and shall administer the same for
such purposes subject to the terms of the conveyance or gift. Such
an acquisition may be to acquire the fee or any lesser interest, development
right, easement including conservation easement, covenant or other
contractual right (including a conveyance on conditions or with limitations
or revisions) as may be necessary to acquire, maintain, improve, protect
or limit the future use or otherwise conserve and properly utilize
open spaces and other lands and water areas within the Township.
The Commission shall, subject to the approval
of the Township Council, have exclusive control of lands acquired
for the purpose hereinabove stated and may adopt suitable rules and
regulations for the use thereof and conduct of all persons while on
or using the same.
The Commission shall keep minutes of its meetings
and activities and shall make an annual report on or before the first
day of December of each year to the governing body, which report shall
be comprehensive and detailed governing operations, receipts, disbursements
and expenditures for the full year.
The Commission is hereby authorized to adopt
bylaws in order to govern its procedural operations.
The governing body shall annually fix, determine
and appropriate a sum sufficient for the care, custody, policing and
maintenance of such lands acquired for the uses and purposes herein
stated and for the expenses incurred by the Commission which shall
be raised by taxation in the same manner as other taxes.
The Commission may appoint a secretary, the
salary shall be fixed and determined by the governing body, and shall
be within the limits of funds appropriated to the Commission.
[Amended by Ord. No. 92-89-377]
A. After the Commission has prepared and submitted to
the Planning Board an index of the natural resources of the Township,
the Planning Board shall make available to the Commission an informational
copy of every application for development submitted to the Board.
B. Within the Pinelands Area, all applications for development shall be referred to the Environmental Commission for review as of the effective date of this section. The Environmental Commission is hereby authorized to review and comment upon the applications to the Planning Board and/or other Township approval agency in accordance with Chapter
245, Land Use and Development.