The commission discussed the Onyx project with scrutiny due to its proximity to the Bucky Pipeline and the proposed use of pervious pavement over the pipeline. There was unease about the removal of trees for the development and frustration over the project representatives’ lack of response to the commission’s environmental recommendations. The lack of communication has led to uncertainty regarding the potential environmental impact of the warehouse project.

The members also focused on the benefits of converting street lights to LEDs. These benefits include improved color rendering, energy savings, and reduced maintenance costs. The commission is in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to advance this initiative. In conjunction with the LED lighting project, the commission is involved in environmental sustainability efforts, such as updates to stormwater regulations and discussions on basins calculations to comply with new requirements.

Another topic was the tree replacement methodology. The commission debated whether to mandate that a 4-inch tree must be replaced with another 4-inch tree instead of a 2.5-inch tree. There were concerns regarding the cost and growth time differences between the two sizes. The Shade Tree Commission’s recommendation to use native species for replanting during development applications was also discussed.

The meeting further discussed possible grants for electric vehicle chargers in multi-unit dwellings, promoting the program to eligible communities, and the town’s responsibility in snow plowing at multi-unit properties. The Department of Public Works maintains a list of such properties, reimbursing a portion of their snow plowing expenses.

The commission considered co-sponsoring the New Jersey Climate Action Gathering and discussed sending out a communication to promote environmental initiatives. Additionally, a potential screening of an environmental film at a local facility was examined.

Members also planned an electric vehicle show in Canal Walk, mentioned an Earth month event, and scheduled a presentation on electric vehicles. Concerns were raised about a proposed ordinance in Garwood and Red Bank aimed at reducing single-use utensils and condiments in takeout orders, focusing on the effectiveness of such ordinances and enforcement challenges.

The commission addressed the involvement of interns in initiatives like the Community Energy Plan and a micro-mobility study, with plans for a virtual kickoff meeting with NV5. State policies related to electric vehicles, including fees and incentives, were discussed as part of efforts to promote electric vehicle adoption. The use of clean community funds for specific initiatives was debated, along with the timeline for projects such as the Community Energy Plan and park development.

There was discussion about the impact of a local Health assessment on Township policy and the presentation of the health assessment to various committees. The commission debated presenting at the New Jersey Redevelopment Planning and Redevelopment conference. The Rails to Trails initiative, including potential involvement from Ridewise and challenges related to Conrail’s ownership of the rail property, was also a topic of conversation.

During public comments, there was a discussion about the “Save the Mo” campaign and the potential impact on the community. The members stressed the importance of educating landscapers on environmentally friendly practices and emphasized the need to be creative in addressing environmental issues.

The impact of pesticide use, the importance of conservation efforts, and individual environmental actions’ significance were debated. A parallel was drawn between the importance of voting in elections and environmental conservation. A suggestion was made to use the NJ Greenways program to underscore the importance of connecting forests and preserving biodiversity.

The commission deliberated on the mowing of green spaces in Colonial Park and proposed communicating the save the mow initiative to the county commissioners. Plans for a DVD screening on July 8th were mentioned before a motion to adjourn the meeting.