S.B. takes stock of its natural, historic resources
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Township residents will soon have an exhaustive catalogue of South Brunswick's flood plains, historic sites, open spaces and more at their fingertips with the completion of the Environmental Resources Inventory (ERI).

Presented to the Township Council during its Tuesday work session meeting, the ERI will have uses ranging from assisting land use boards in evaluating applications to helping students perform historic or environmental research.

The inventory, receiving its first update since 1984, was funded through a $9,500 grant from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions and a $7,500 appropriation from the township. Dan Van Abs, a member of the South Brunswick Environmental Commission who presented the ERI on Tuesday, said that money was saved on the study in a variety of ways. Many of the maps used, for example, were provided by the township planning department, eliminating the need to draw up new ones. Meanwhile, some environmental commission members were able to use their expertise to write up some of the technical work themselves, rather than hiring an outside expert. Also, a section on scenic areas in South Brunswick was placed in the hands of the residents, who suggested locations for inclusion.

The new ERI will be available in both a hard-copy format for perusal at the municipal building and online through the township's Web site. Van Abs was especially excited about the Internet component because the mapping is based off the township's geographic information system, meaning that different maps can be overlaid, so data can be compared and contrasted. For example, one would be able to view both the locations of historic districts and groundwater recharge areas on the same map. While the study is not yet online, Van Abs said he only needs to give the ERI a final look-over, and then work on uploading the massive document should begin.

"I should hope that by this month we'll have it up," said Van Abs.

He also said that the digital version can be upgraded with new data, which is, in fact, the plan.

"Anything and everything can be upgraded over time … and the environmental commission plans to be maintaining this for a long, long time," said Van Abs.

The council was impressed with the depth and scope of the ERI and said it would be extremely useful for a great number of people.

"It's a great job and will benefit many, many people in the township. I certainly know it will benefit the Planning Board," said Mayor Frank Gambatese, who also sits on the Planning Board.