Environment and Open Space

The home of Thomas Edison should be an innovative leader in protecting our environment and open space. West Orange was once known as the town within the trees, yet our tree canopy has drastically decreased over the years.

A Sustainable Vision for West Orange

1. Our town should invest in solar carports on municipal parking lots and consult with neighboring towns about community solar programs which will help drastically lower utility bills.
2. We should revitalize the Environmental Commission to have the ability to work in coordination with the Planning Board as a consult for environmental issues. Our ordinance dictates that the Environmental Commission is supposed to receive and consult on all Environmental Impact Studies, yet as a Commissioner, I have never seen one given to the commission.
3. We must stop irresponsible overdevelopment in town. (AGAIN, we need a comprehensive strategic town planner)
4. I am glad to see the West Essex Highlands proposal recently denied by the Planning Board. As someone who spoke at many and attended dozens of these meetings, this project was incredibly problematic for a myriad of reasons.
5. We should be more aggressive in county, state, and federal grant applications and our approach to Green Acres Funding, of which we can use some of the funds to help offset the town’s debt.
6. We should be looking into permeable pavement utilization to reduce stormwater runoff and flooding
7. We should be willing to explore the viability of a stormwater utility to address increased stormwater runoff and sewage problems while freeing up municipal budget space. Thousands of towns across the country have gone this route to ensure dedicated funds to improve sewer and stormwater infrastructure needs. Maplewood raises approximately $800,000 each year since they implemented this.
8. West Orange CAN AND MUST be proactive and ban data centers!! I wrote the ordinance (2 versions in fact), for the town to amend Chapter 25 of our Municipal Land Use Regulations and enact a MORATORIUM on DATA Centers. Enacting this prohibition NOW, protects us from costly legal battles down the road, safeguards residents from increases in utility costs and increased noise pollution, and shields us from longterm planning issues. I hope the Council acts with foresight not hindsight and passes this ordinance.
9. We need a bamboo ordinance
10. We can expand vegetation growth around our lakes and ponds simply by reducing mowing. This not only saves money on landscaping costs, but it improves water quality.
11. We should have an annual water quality report.
12. We can install refillable water bottle stations at all our parks to reduce plastic water bottles
13. West Orange should be more aggressive in combating our heat islands. A comprehensive heat island index study is needed, and the data should be used to inform tree planting priorities.
14. We have dozens of depository basins in town that can be utilized as pollinator gardens
15. Moss cultivation absorbs heat and reduces carbon footprint at a much higher rate per square inch than trees do
16. We can and should expand Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
17. We must explore the prospect of a community solar program to offer low cost renewable electricity
18. As geothermal technologies become cheaper and more available, we should be prepared and able to tap into new technology.
19. As our flooding continues to get worse in town, we need to have real solutions to mitigate flooding. One idea is a stormwater utility. This utility would generate annual revenue based on impervious coverage and contributions to stormwater overflow. Maplewood's utility generates over $800,000 annually for stormwater related projects and infrastructure. Having a dedicated annual revenue stream that cannot be used for miscellaneous items ensures we can pay off stormwater infrastructure projects and debt, removes the politics of deciding where to spend, and helps us combat flooding in town.
20. Oppose the expansion of artificial turf on our fields. Artificial turf creates excessive heat, exacerbates stormwater runoff, and is physically harmful to our athletes.
21. We need a Climate Resiliency Master Plan that pinpoints the intersectionality of each and every decision we make. How does building here implement stormwater? How does this new law impact our carbon footprint? Does this decision contribute to increasing utility costs?

Protecting Open Space, & Planning Smart Growth

West Orange’s future depends on the choices we make today. By protecting our environment, preserving open space, and investing in sustainable infrastructure, we can leave our community stronger, healthier, and more resilient for future generations.

How to Vote in New Jersey

Environment and Open Space

A Sustainable Vision for West Orange

Protecting Open Space, & Planning Smart Growth

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