Pinelands Commission Planning To Cluster Dense Townhome Development Next To Sturbridge Lakes!
We Need Your Help!
Dear Sturbridge Lakes Homeowners:
This is of vital importance to all!
The Pinelands Commission is fast tracking a proposal to allow a dense development of up to 290 townhomes next to
Sturbridge Lakes on the Evesham / Voorhees border.
This is a complete departure from the Pinelands existing rules, which require single family homes on very large lots.
We do NOT want Sturbridge Lakes to be the victim of an “experiment” to build cluster developments on forest land that
should be preserved in its entirety.
The threatened cluster development would start next to homes at the William Feather Drive-Tenby Chase Drive
intersection and run South along Tenby Chase Drive to Sutley Drive and into Sturbridge Woods/Estates!
Developers will cut roads through the woods, possibly along the Sturbridge border. (see attached map of MAP Proposed
Development Area Next To Sturbridge)
They will need to run sewer and power lines.
The natural environment we so enjoy in our backyards will be completely destroyed.
The plan also shamefully allows for a “reduced inventory” of endangered species in the target area.
Endangered species will be ignored and their habitat eliminated so that a dense development can be built.
The many forest creatures to be eliminated include: box turtles (Special Concern Wildlife Species), whip-poor-wills (Species
of Special Concern) bald eagles (endangered and protected), brown skink (Species of Interest), numerous other Endangered
and Threatened Wildlife Species, and many deer, fox, etc.
This plan was concealed from the surrounding communities, when we should have been consulted as major stakeholders in
this decision. Stopping this outrage is vital for our community and for the environment.
We need to expand our efforts with your help!
To stop the proposed clustering development next to SturbridgeLakes, we need you to lobby the Pinelands Commission,
send them comments and concerns, and prepare to attend their public meetings.
Voice your concerns
1. Send your comments to the Pinelands Commission
a. Public comment for this is open much sooner than we expected, so the time to make your voice heard is NOW
b. Here’s the Pinelands Commission Formal Public Comment Submissions
link: https://www.nj.gov/pinelands/home/contact/public.shtml
c. When commenting:
? When writing your comment, you could mention wording like Pinelands CMP “Black Run Rule” or “clustering pilot
program”
? On the form, you must select the *COMMENT TOPIC Proposed Regulatory Amendments to the Pinelands
Comprehensive Management Plan.
2. Attend Pinelands Commission CMP Policy and Implementation Committee Meetings
The next Pinelands Commission Master Plan meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 28 – 9:30 a.m:
Pinelands Commission
Richard J. Sullivan Center for Environmental Policy and Education
In the Terrence D. Moore Conference Room
15 Springfield Road Pemberton Township, New Jersey 08068
Note: This is near the entrance of Bodhitree Farm, near the intersection of Springfield Rd & Pemberton Browns Mill Rd
(Rt 530)
3. Stay informed by joining a group of your neighbors devoted to stopping the development: NJ PINELANDS SOAR
Find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/967789634552235/
You may also email trustees@sturbridgelakes.com and we will connect you with the preservation group.
The Sturbridge Community desperately needs your help now!
