New Ordinance Impacts Development In Bamber Lake

Developers will no longer be able to build on scattered lots in the Bamber Lake section of Lacey after the township committee approved the amendments for the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan.

The amendment requires units to be built on 1-acre lots rather than scattered on large lots, said Susan Grogan, Chief Planner of the Pinelands Commission.

Currently there are 32-acre sites and development is spread out, Mayor Gary Quinn said.

“We don’t anticipate seeing much of any development out there,” Quinn said. “But it’s the best way to do it to minimize impact on residents.”

The amendment will preserve more forest while reducing infrastructure costs for municipalities, Grogan said.

When the lots are scattered, it becomes more costly to provide township services to the area, Quinn said.

The revisions also include updates in forestry standards, which deals with clear cutting application requirements and environmental standards and wetlands restoration, Grogan said. Under very limited circumstances, residents with wetlands property will be permitted to restore and preserve the area.

Every municipality in the Pinelands area will revise its land use ordinances to comply with the Pinelands Commission’s updates, Grogan said.

Lacey Township did the first reading of the ordinance on Thursday, Sept. 8 and will do the second reading at the next committee meeting on Sept. 22.

Lacey is eligible to be reimbursed for up to $10,000 to cover expenses due to the revision.