SLA News

Lake #5 treated with Tribune- no restrictions on swimming or fishing.
For 3 days-No Drinking or Pets in the water.
For 5 days-No irrigation.

Dear Sturbridge Lakes Residents:

We received several reports from residents that after swimming at the lake, they developed a “swimmers itch” which appears as bites or a rash.

We called our lake management company, Solitude Lakes, for a site visit. The lakes appear to be in a generally healthy condition, however, Solitude will conduct testing in an effort to determine the cause of the reported rashes.

There are two likely causes. One is the “swimmers itch” parasite, a naturally occurring lake condition which has been controlled in the past with spot treatments of a copper-based solution at the beaches.

The other is that high phosphorous/ low oxygen conditions could be causing algae blooms that can irritate the skin.

In either case, the recommendation by Solitude is the same. The lakes are safe for swimming while further testing is conducted. Swimmers should rinse off with fresh water, and thoroughly towel dry, to remove any irritating agents. Water hoses have been made available at the Foxview and Chatham beach houses.

Some residents have asked if the lakes are safe for their dogs, especially in light of the swimmer’s itch, and after lake chemical treatments. We remind residents that their dogs are not permitted at the beaches and should not be swimming in the lakes. We cannot know if any lake conditions or lake treatments are safe for pets, as this is not the focus of any testing. It is best that dogs be kept out of the lakes.

Whether or not high phosphorous is related to the swimmer’s itch, we do have an annual problem with the runoff of nutrients into our lakes. This promotes weeds, algae and lower water oxygen. Phosphorous is one such nutrient. It is naturally occurring, but is greatly increased by the use of fertilizers which are harmful to the lakes. Therefore, we are providing a reminder and some information to help you make the right landscaping choices.

Please remember that even if you don’t live along a lake, our stormwater drains directly into the lakes.

How to help reduce phosphorous and other harmful nutrients in the lakes:

While many factors play into our lakes’ health, it is the opinion of Solitude lakes and their staff biologist that the lakes are being negatively impacted by the overuse of non-approved fertilizers. The SLA would like to remind everyone that there are reasons behind restricting the amount of lawns permitted on each property. Less lawns mean less fertilizers. This in turn leads to healthier lakes and ecosystems.

Whatever we place on our properties will ultimately always wind up in our water. Fertilizers on all of our properties have a direct impact on the lakes. While fertilizing your lawn grows it fuller and thicker, it has the exact same effect on lake weeds.

What can we all do?

The SLA is asking all homeowners to stop using all fertilizer for the next 30 days. Fertilizer guidelines can be found in the information attached to this notice. Once the 30 day fertilizer pause has ended, these guidelines must be followed.

The fertilizers commonly used by landscapers and lawn treatment companies do not work well in our community given the complexities of the lake ecosystem.

Additionally, dumping of any materials into the lakes, (sand, soil, leaves, grass clippings, etc) is strictly prohibited. It’s crucial we all be good stewards of our environment. The lakes are essential to our property values and quality of ife.

We will continue to work closely with Solitude Lakes, and will keep you informed of any developments.

-SLA Board of Trustees

Lawn Care Guidelines

The SLA Trustees are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting for listen only.

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 816 6006 4165
Passcode: 996738

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Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ksBrJ3FFI

Skip cooking tonight and visit Dan’s Waffle’s at Foxview at 5:00. The menu’s are attached and some of their other everyday specials are below:

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with fries $12
Kick’n Chicken Sandwich with homemade pickles, crispy chicken, topped with Buffalo and Ranch sauces served on brioche with side of fries $12
Old Bay Crab Fries with side of cheese dip $9
3 piece Chicken Fingers and Fries $13
Specialty Beverages
Fresh Pineapple Pina Colada $8
Vietnamese Ice Coffee $7
Fresh squeezed lemonade available in Fresh fruit flavors
Strawberry, Peach or Lemon
24oz cup $5
A&W Root beer floats $6

STURBRIDGE LAKES ASSOCIATION, INC.
On Site Board of Trustees Meeting
Lions Lake Park
August 1st, 2023
7:30 PM
AGENDA

1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Review and Approve Meeting Minutes of June 13th, 2023
4. Board/Committee Liaison’s Reports
5. Committee Reports
6. Old Business
7. Public Portion-Limit 4 minutes per Home.
8. July Invoices
9. Review June Financials
10. Collections
11. Pickleball/Tennis Courts Update
12. Antietam Park/Battery Park Fencing Update
13. Tennis/Basketball Court Resurfacing Update
14. Pineland Commission
15. Scheduled ADR’s
16. Web Site Update
17. Any Additional Items from Board.

MOTION TO ADJOURN

The Not Your Mama’s Tacos Food Truck will be at Foxview Beach this Wednesday. Below is the Menu

The next SLA Trustees Meeting will take place on August 1 at Lyons Lake at 7:30 pm. Reminders will be sent out before the meeting. Normally the July and August meeting are combined so the next meeting will be the combined July/August meeting.

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!

Here is the menu for tonight’s food truck. He will be at Foxview starting at 4:00.

Food Truck Wednesday June 28