Welcome to Save Hamilton Open Space

Why are we destroying Open Space to build more shopping centers? (click thumbnail to see larger photos)

• Zoning Board Denies Care One Expansion  (6/9/09)
  At its June 9, 2009, meeting the Hamilton Township Zoning Board denied a proposed expansion of the Care One assisted living facility located on Whitehorse-Hamilton Square Rd. near Cypress Lane. The vote was 5-2 to not grant at least eight variances to township zoning regulations. Denial of the variances effectively denied the development plan and upheld township ordinances that promote separation of uses and protect against overdevelopment.
  
  Residents' Website ...
  
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• Route 130 Development and By-pass (9/09/09)
  Re-zoning and a proposed road will open development in a heavily wooded area on Route 130 that contains the headwaters of Pond Run and Edges Brook, thus increasing the likelihood of downstream flooding and adding pollution to these streams and the streams and wetlands they flow into. Development in the area also threatens the right of way of the former Camden and Amboy Railroad, the first railroad in NJ, the third in the U.S. and one of the top ten endangered historic sites in NJ.
  
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• NJ Supreme Court Rules Against Developer Contributions (9/09/09)
  NJ Supreme Court issued a much anticipated decision in an appeal of cases in Jackson Township and Egg Harbor NJ, both addressing whether a municipality may enact ordinances that condition development approvals on a requirement that the builder donate land for open space or make an "in lieu of" payment for open space purposes.
  
  Briefly stated, the Court unanimously affirmed the appellate court ruling which had invalidated both township's open space donation condition or "in lieu of" payment requirements.
  
  The ruling may put the Columbia Group approval for 600+ housing units and the "train station" area redevelopment plan in legal jeopardy. Both of them required open space to be provided via a payment in lieu of actual provision of open space.
  
  Also, Hamilton business administrator John Ricci was quoted in the Trenton Times (5/29/09) as saying that Hamilton will have to rely on developer contributions to replenish open space funds since Hamilton has no open space tax. The recent court ruling would seem to put that funding source in jeopardy.
  
  Note that Hamilton has no open space tax, but has bonded for open space funds in the past.
  
  Read more about the court ruling ...
  
  
• Laura Ave – Storm water Precedent Set (10/5/09)
  After a four year battle, the NJ Appeals Court finally determined that local planning boards – not other agencies such as NJDEP - have the duty to review and determine legal compliance of storm water management plans submitted as part of development applications.
  
  In the case of the Laura Ave. development (corner of Laura and Evelyn Avenues in Cornell Heights), the Hamilton Planning Board approved the development with the condition that NJDEP and the Mercer County Soil Conservation District had to rule on the adequacy of the storm water plan – something they have no duty or authority to do.
  
  Even though the township engineer said the plans were not compliant, the development was built. A new Planning Board hearing is set for Nov. 12, 2009.
  
  The development is in a former farm field at the corner of Laura and Evelyn Avenues in the Cornell Heights section of Hamilton.
  
  Read more about the Laura Ave. development ...
  
  
• Levin Properties Shopping Center Delayed Due to Wetlands Fill
  and Storm Water Issues (9/09/09)
  NJDEP withdrew its approval of Levin’s permit to fill wetlands on the site and allowed SHOS’s consultant to comment on the adequacy of the development’s storm water management plan. SHOS contends the plan is inadequate.
  
  The proposed shopping center is at the corner of Klockner Ave. and Nottingham Way.
  
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• Two Strip Malls on Route 33 Stalled  (9/09/09)
  The so-called Palagano and Square Properties developments on approximately five acres of woods on Route 33 between Crest Ave and Willis Honda (formerly Nitti Subaru) are stalled – one due a NJDEP ruling and the other due to a faulty Planning Board Resolution of Memorialization that does not adequately incorporate items of an agreement reached between the developer and local residents.
  
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• Klockner Woods – Is it Finally Over? (9/09/09)
  After five years of community action, deal making, politicking, and court battles, the end seems to have come. Mercer County provided $300,000 toward the purchase of the 50 acre tract located on Klockner Ave. This was reported to be the last piece of funding needed to purchase the land. Township Administrator John Ricci was quoted in the Trenton Times as saying Klockner Woods “will be preserved as open space”.
  
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We are a local, not-for-profit 501 (c)(3), non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving open space in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. We believe that there should be a balance between natural habitat, parks, farms and developed land. With more than 85% of Hamilton's land already developed, we have far exceeded that balance, and should preserve what land remains.

What We Do

Education - We educate people about the extent, location and inherent value of open space in Hamilton, along with strategies and tactics that can be used to save it.

Preservation - We work directly with citizen groups and government to save all or parts of specific parcels of land in Hamilton Township.

Advocacy - We support laws, ordinances and actions by government that help save land, recycle existing development, and give communities a greater voice in land use decisions.