Town Hall » Committees, Commissions and Boards
Planning BoardRecreation CommitteeEnvironmental CommissionPlanning BoardPlanning BoardEnvironmental CommissionPlanning BoardEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionBoard of HealthEnvironmental CommissionArchitectural Review CommitteeEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionOpen Space CommitteeEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionPlanning BoardOpen Space CommitteeEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionEnvironmental CommissionPlanning BoardPlanning BoardPlanning Board
New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award Winner
Posted: November 10, 2011
for complete information please visit http://www.njfuture.org/smart-growth-101/stories/2011-awards/town-center/.
Sports Council
Posted: October 04, 2011
The Sports Council meets in the Municipal Building at 6:30 pm in February, June, August, and October to discuss sports schedules for the upcoming season and other related topics.
Tri-Community Trails Link Brochure
Posted: June 21, 2011
TRI-COMMUNITY TRAILS LINK
Linking the trail networks of
Byram Township
Hopatcong Borough
Stanhope Borough
Byram Township - Highlands Environmental Resource Inventory Maps -
Posted: June 06, 2011
Byram - Highlands Environmental Resource Inventory Maps
Highlands - Byram Township May 2011 ERI
Posted: June 06, 2011
Highlands - Byram Township May 2011 ERI
Byram Township ERI May 2011
Posted: June 06, 2011
Highlands Byram Township ERI May 2011
Township Committee Forestry Plan
Posted: January 10, 2011
Click here for the Township Committee Forestry Plan.
Tax Maps
Posted: October 18, 2010
Click on the following links:
HOW TO GET RID OF INVASIVE STILTGRASS
Posted: September 27, 2010
Click here for information on HOW TO GET RID OF INVASIVE STILTGRASS.
Bryram, Hopatcong, Stanhope Tri-Municipality Trail Link Opens
Posted: September 25, 2010
 Photo by Christina Tatu/New Jersey Herald Stanhope Mayor Diana Kuncken and Cliff Lundin, chairman of the Tri-Community Trails Link Committee, speak during an opening ceremony Saturday at the old Lackawanna Cut-Off. |
||
|
||
Residents of Byram, Stanhope and Hopatcong can now hike and bike three trails connecting the municipalities. A special ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday at the historic single-lane bridge over the Lackawanna Cut-Off at Sparta-Stanhope Road, where the three trails converge, marked the official completion of the 14-month Tri-Community Trail Link project. "Once we get moving, the possibilities are endless," Byram Township Councilman Scott Olson said. The project connected three main routes that run through the municipalities, but those trails, each between 1 and 1.5 miles in length, also connect with hundreds of others in the area. The trails used to be deeply rutted and some areas were overgrown with brush and trees, but a $3,700 grant from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions made it possible to redo the paths, Olson said. Saturday's grand opening marks only the first part of an effort to successfully connect the towns with walking and biking trails, said Cliff Lundin, chairman of the project team. Next, the Tri-Community Trails Committee hopes to link the walking trails to neighborhoods throughout the three communities, eliminating the need for people to drive to trail sites. The group also hopes to construct a trail from the old Lackawanna Cut-Off Bridge to the Veterans Field on Flora Road in Hopatcong. The trails, which will ultimately link with the Appalachian Trail running from Georgia to Maine, were scheduled to be completed by the end of June; however, unexpected delays caused the project's due date and the grant, to be extended until the end of this month. "This (ceremony) represents a culmination of a lot of time and work and commitment," Stanhope Mayor Diana Kuncken said. "It also places an emphasis on getting out and getting exercise and calls to mind the beautiful, natural settings we have in the three towns." The ceremony was attended by Kuncken, Byram Mayor Jim Oscovitch and Hopatcong Councilman Howard Baker. Hopatcong Mayor Sylvia Petillo was unable to attend the event because of another obligation. Longtime Hopatcong Open Space Commission member Malcolm Piester was honored during Saturday's event for his dedication to the trail system and seven years of service on the commission. "It's nice to just go walking and have woods to walk in," Piester said. His interest in the outdoors began when he was about 12 and began a newspaper route. "One of the things I have to do to keep my sanity is get in the woods and get away from all the traffic," he said. While he is excited about the project, Piester reminded those at the ceremony to treat the trail system with respect. All-terrain vehicles are not allowed on the trail, and he hopes hikers and bikers keep garbage off the pathways. The trails include the Mansfield Bike Path in Byram, a 1.8-mile route linking Mansfield Drive near Byram Lakes Elementary School and Byram Intermediate School to Sparta-Stanhope Road, just north of Lenape Valley High School. The bike path, which ends at the border of Stanhope, connects the Stanhope School District and a footpath between Lenape Valley High School and Valley Road School. The trail then leads to the Sussex County Library, through the Hopatcong Preserve toward Durban Avenue School and Hopatcong High School.
Reducing stormwater pollution to our waterways
Posted: September 01, 2010
Click on the link below to obtain information on reducing stormwater pollution to our waterways.
http://www.cleanwaternj.org/index.htm
Reducing stormwater pollution to our waterways
Posted: September 01, 2010
Click on the link below for information on reducing stormwater pollution to our waterways.
http://www.cleanwaternj.org/index.htm.
New Jersey Green Home Remodeling Guidelines
Posted: August 30, 2010
The information provided in these guidelines is intended to assist homeowners, contractors, architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and other professionals who design and remodel residential structures. They draw upon best practices and provide a general overview of green remodeling strategies customized for New Jersey, with links to additional information and resources. These guidelines introduce ways a homeowner or remodeling professional can incorporate green building practices into common home remodeling projects.
Click on the following links to obtain NJ Green Home Guidelines:
Hazardous Trees: Thirteen Questions to Ask.
Posted: June 18, 2010
Hazardous Trees: Thirteen Questions to Ask.
Aquatic Invasive Species
Posted: June 18, 2010
Pond and Lake Management Part IV: Aquatic Invasive Species
Trails Powerpoint Presentation 2009
Posted: September 29, 2009
Here is the Trails Powerpoint prepared for Byram day 2009. You can download a Power Point viewer here.
You can also view as a .pdf.
2006 Open Space Plan
Posted: August 25, 2009
Here is the link to download the 2006 Open Space Plan.
Decrease the Geese
Posted: August 21, 2009
DECREASE THE GEESE!!Canada Geese are a nuisance and a serious threat to our lakes.
When they become year-round residents, they add lots of nutrients to the water to promote weeds and algae. Just 20 geese can equal a 100-pound bag of fertilizer with a 10’ phosphonis number dumped in the lake each year.
To discourage them from settling in:
o DONT FEED THE GEESE.
o PLANT AN UNMO WED BUFFER ALONG YOUR SHORELINE, THE WIDER THE BETTER. Lawns to the lake are the perfect invitation for geese.
o SCARE THEM OFF REGULARLY—one NJ town has residents wave swim noodles like large wings and it works!
o AVOID PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS, SEPTIC RUNOFF, PET WASTE RUNOFF—these promote the lake weeds that geese feed on.
(Courtesy o/the Byram Township Environmental Commission.)
Decrease the Geesef
Annual Report 2007-2008
Posted: August 21, 2009
BYRAM TOWNSHIP
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
2007-2098 ANNUAL REPORT
The Byram Township Environmental Commission submits this annual rep ort, summarizing its work during the 2007-2008 year. Current Environmental Commission members include Chair Sheila Hall, Council Liaison Scott Olson, Rowena McNulty, Daven Baez, Michelle Rehse, Caryn Sega!, Adam Rosenberg, Lisa Shimamoto, Dawn Boyer, and Susan Wise, Th e secretary is Margaret McGarrity.
TRAIL PROGRAM
The Commission has been concentrating on the Township trail program since obtaining a grant to produce the first town-wide trail map in 2000. In 2006, the Commission obtained a second grant to update the map and to publish a pocket-sized Trail Guide. In 2007-2008, the Commission:
o Designed and purchased “Byram Trails” and “Byram Parks” markers
. Parks
markers were installed on the perimeter of the Vetter open space parcel.
o Posted for ‘no Al ‘/ use’ the parcels owned by the Board of Education and NJ Natural Lands Trust along Lubbers Run.
o Initiated a partnership with the Stanhope Environmental Commission on trail linkages, including a link between Mansfield Bike Trail and Lenape High School.
o Continued its hike series—September 2007, Highlands Trail; November 2007, Jefferson-Glen Bike Trail; March 2008 Sussex Branch Trail; April 2008 hlands Trail, June 2008 Wolf Lake t
RIVER PROGRAM
o Funded and installed the Lubbers Run riparian buffer planting at Neil Gylling Park to protect the rner and keep geese off the playing fields
PUBLICATIONS AND WRITTEN MATERIALS
o Ongoing articles for the regular full-page “Environmental Come?’ in the Township newsletter on various issues, including phosphorus-free products, recycling, the Vetter cleanup.
o Design and town-wide mailing of postcard about the impact of phosphorus and other homeowner practices on our lakes.
o Articles in local newspapers about environmental issues and EC events.
o Site visits and written comments on Planning Board applications.
o Site visits and written comments on quarry relicensing application before the Council.
o Written comments on Highlands Regional Master Plan, Village Center Redevelopment Plan, and Governor Corzine’s park closure proposals.
SPECIAL GUESTS AT COMMISSION MEETINGS
o To speak about C-i stream designations—Ernie Hofer, President of Lake Mohawk Board of Trustees and Watershed Specialist at Wallkill River Watershed Association, and Dave Peifer, Highlands Project Director from the Association of NJ Environmental Commissions.
o To speak about alternative energy for public buildings, homes, businesses--Frank DeWitt of Alternate Energy Associates, Mr.DeWitt is to do a free energy audit of the town complex.
o To discuss and seek advice about the re-routing of the Highlands Trail—Glen Oleksak, Brenda Hoizinger, and Adam Rosenberg from the NY-NJ Trail Conference.
PARTNERSHIPS
o With federal AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors on cleanups and planting projects.
o With Recreation Director Janet Meisner on various recreation and park issues, including the EC-funded planting of the detention basin at the entrance to C.O. Johnson Park.
o With Lake Mohawk, Lake Lackawanna, and Forest Lake community clubs on lake management issues.
o With NJDEP on complaints from residents regarding violations of State regulations.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
The Commission sends members to special meetings regarding environmental issues, especially those of particular interest to the Township, including:
o The special Township Council meeting on Highlands Regional Master Plan.
o The NJDOT Collaborative Planning meeting on 206.
o The Sussex County Chamber of Commerce Rail-trail Subcommittee (sending a regular representative).
o The Musconetcong River Management Council (sending a regular representative).
o Sussex County 208 Water Quality Management committee (fill-in attendance for the Township).
o Sussex County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (EC member is the Township’s alternate member).
o League of Municipalities’ Mayors Committee for a Green Future (sending a regular representative>.
RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY
Along the ongoing efforts listed above, in 2007-2008 the Commission researched and/or advocated the following:
o A Township ordinance to restrict the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizers, presented to the Board of Health with support from the Lake Lackawanna Investment Company, Lake Mohawk Country Club, and Forest Lakes Community Club.
o A Township ordinance to protect trees/forests, now one of the requirements in the Preservation Area under the Highlands Regional Master Plan,
o A Township ordinance regulating soil importation ordinance, with the Planning Board engineer now recommending a similar ordinance.
o A Township ordinance for ‘High Performance Building’, in support of this effort by the Township’s Architectural Review Committee.
o Better review of septic issues on applications to the Planning Board and the Construction Office and a better process for inspecting and repairing septic problems townwide, also to include better collaboration between the Environmental Commission and the Board of Health.
o The preservation of existing mature trees along the Route 206 NJDOT project area.
o A Township ordinance to ban billboards.
o A list of proposed planting sites for No Net Loss tree funding.
Zoning Map
Posted: August 19, 2009
Click here for the 11x17 version of the zoning map or here for the larger version.
Forestry Stewardship Plan
Posted: August 19, 2009
Click here to see the Forestry Stewardship Plan.
Recycling E-Waste
Posted: August 16, 2009
Recycling Our E-Waste
Perhaps you’ve see all of those commercials recently about the change from analog to digital television. All broadcasters will be required to make the change next year. What are you going to do?
Even if you continue to use your old television, some day you will replace it.
How many computers does your family own? What will you do with them when you get new ones?
What about your cell phones? What will happen to them?
Have you been replacing your standard light bulbs with fluorescents? They’ll last a long time, but not forever.
And what about that microwave, that DVD player, your old stereo?
All of these conveniences, some would say necessities, of everyday life that we take for granted, cannot become afterthoughts when we are done with them. They contain dangerous materials and cannot simply be ‘thrown out” with the trash. They are E-Waste.
What is E-Waste?
Monitors and TV sets
Computers and computer accessories
Printers, fax machines and copiers
Home entertainment and stereo equipment
Phones and cameras
CDs, DVDs, computer disks, video and audio tapes
Batteries (can be recycled at the Township recycling center too)
Microwaves
Fluorescent light fixtures and bulbs
E-waste, if thrown out with the trash, sits in landfills and can contaminate the soil and groundwater with lead, mercury, nickel, cadmium, zinc, flame retardants, and other hazardous materials that “leach out” over time. Some experts estimate that only 15% of our c-waste is being recycled. To help keep us safe, we must recycle our c-waste.
We’re lucky. Recycling e-waste is easy. And there are many opportunities to do it. Here are just a few.
The Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority holds free c-waste days four times a year (maximum of 10 items or systems). Load up the car and drive up to Lafayette. You never even have to get out of your vehicle. The next scheduled days are August 16th and October 18th (The County’s definition of c-waste includes only ‘consumer electronics’—check the website at www.scmua.org.) fluorescent bulbs can be recycled free all year—very important because of the mercury content.
Back Thru the Future Computer Recycling, Inc. in Ogdensburg will recycle your computer c-waste at low cost
Most major computer and appliance manufacturers have recycling programs for their products. These include Dell, HP, LG, NEC, Nokia, AT&T, Sharp, and more! Even some major retailers like Best Buy and Staples participate in recycling. Check their websites for details. Also check the New Jersey DEP and federal EPA websites for additional information, ideas, and links.
What Happens to my E-Waste?
Your e-waste gets DE-manufactured, a fancy word for broken down into its different parts and materials. Even individual circuit boards are de manufactured. Typically, glass is crushed, plastic parts are separated, as are the different metals. These can include gold, silver, platinum, aluminum, and steel. These materials are then sold to other companies who melt them down and re-use them in new products. gt;
There are also companies like Urban Renewal Corp who take unwanted computers and use them to retrain and rehabilitate people in need ofopportunities and jobs. They recently completed a collection drive in cooperation with Troop 276 and the Byram Township Schools.
The important thing to remember is c-waste is not trash. It must be recycled and re-used.
Recycling E-Waste
Living with Bears
Posted: August 15, 2009
UVING WITH BEARS
The Byram Township Environmental Commission obtained this information from www.state.nj..us/dep/fgw/bearproqlhtm, hiLli JI) nt;w nwnr in huu und If von encounter a bear,..
o Do not reed or approach the bear!
o Remain calm and make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in a calm, assertive voice.
o Make sure the bear has an escape route.
o Yell, hang pots and pans or use an airhorn to scare away the bear. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
o The bear may utter a series of huffs. make popping sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away and avoid direct eye contact. Do not run.
o If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It usually is not a threatening behavior.
o Black hears will sometimes bluff charge when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground. avoid direct eye contact and then slowly back away. Do not run.
o If the bear will not leave, head for nearby shelter. Remember that black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back.
Did you know’?
o Black bears are usually solitary animals that are most active at dawn and dusk.
o Black bears can run up to 35 miles per hour. They are strong swimmers and excellent climbers.
o During winter, black bears undergo a period of dormancy in dens, called torpor. to avoid severe weather and food shortages. Since black bears are not true hibernators, they may leave their dens if disturbed or to search for food on mild winter days.
o Den sites include rock cavities, brush piles, open ground nests and hollow trees. How to keep bears out of your neighborhood...
o DO NOT LEAVE OUT FOOD OR GARBAGE.
o FEEDING BEARS IS ILLEGAL. AND IT IS DANGEROUS FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS.
o Use hear-resistant garbage containers and store them along the inside walls of your garage or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.
o Wash garbage containers with a disinfectant solution regularly to remove odors.
o Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
o Clean up after pets. If you feed them outside, do so during daylight only. Pick up leftover food and remove bowls immediately.
o Clean outdoor grills and utensils after each use and store grills securely.
o Avoid feeding birds or do so during daylight only between December 1 and April 1, when bears are least active. Suspend feeder from a free-hanging wire,
with the bottom is at least 10 feet off the ground. Bring feeder indoors at night. Clean up spilled seeds and shells.
Report black bear damage or nuisance or aggressive behavior to local police or to the New Jersey Department of Environand Wildlife at 1(877) WARN DEP<br><br>
Spraying for Caterpillars
Posted: August 14, 2009
Stop and Think Before You Spray for Those Pesky Caterpillars Now is the time of year when we all begin to think about our lawns and gardens. Dealing with common lawn and garden pests can be as simple as removing them by hand or setting a special trap designed to capture only the pest of concern. When reaching for pesticides keep in mind that often they can harm beneficial insects and should only be applied in extreme cases. It is important to consider the pollinators (bees and butterl lies), because without them our plants would not be able to reproduce. To find out more about the importance of NJ pollinators and ways you can protect them: http://www. nrcs. usdaqov/feature/pollinatorshtml. Two pests of great concern in this area are the gypsy moth and the eastern tent caterpillar. Because of their similarities they are often confused. Eastern tent caterpillars are native to the U. S.; the gypsy moth was accidentally brought to the U.S. in 1869 in the hope it could breed with silkworms. Tent caterpillars and gypsy moths eat leaves in the spring. Deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves each fall) can re-grow a new set of leaves by July and can usually withstand 2-3 successive years of defoliation (removal of leaves) without being killed. Eastern tent caterpillars may be ugly and unsightly but their defoliation rarely kills trees unless the trees are already diseased or stressed. Gypsy moths, on the other hand, can be of concern and may need professional treatment if the outbreak is severe over several years. The easiest way to tell them apart is by appearance. The gypsy moth caterpillar has five pairs of blue spots followed by six pairs of red spots along its back. The eastern tent caterpillar has a white line down its back with light blue and black spots on its sides. For a comparison chart: httj://www.dec. ny.Qov/animals/7436.html. Also, tent caterpillars build webs in tree crotches; gypsy moths do not. Some simple techniques for reducing the populations of these insects without spraying are removing egg masses in the fall or early spring before they hatch and installing sticky wraps on trunks to capture caterpillars as they move up and down. For more information: http;!/www.statenjus/agricuIture/pant/qypsy.htm. Happy gardening and remember most insects are good for our natural environment!Stop and Think Before You Spray for Those Pesky Caterpillars
How Homeowners Can Protect Our Lakes, River and Wells
Posted: August 14, 2009
Click on the article below to learn more about how you, as a homeowner, can help to protect our lakes, rivers and wells.How Homeowners can Protect Our Lakes, Rivers and Wells
Rain Gardens
Posted: August 14, 2009
Rain gardens were first developed in the early 1990s in Maryland by a developer interested in maintaining the natural land depressions on his construction site and putting them to work for him by capturing and infiltrating the increased amount of storm water runoff generated by constructing homes and roads. Sound complicated? It can really be quite easy and is an effective tool for you the homeowner to enhance water quality and control the storm water coming off your property.Take advantage of what nature has to offer you by capturing the rain and putting it to work on your lawn and garden areas by controlling runoff leaving your property, reducing localized flooding, increasing infiltration and planting native plants that increase biodiversity. Unlike a traditional garden a rain garden is dug down and planted slightly below grade in a basin. This enables the garden to capture and infiltrate precipitation into the ground water. No need to worry about mosquitoes an effective rain garden will infiltrate water in one to two days and won’t allow mosquitoes to breed. Rain gardens are also great in public spaces providing areas of interest while infiltrating runoff from roofs and sidewalks.
Now is a good time of year to begin planning for your rain garden. Take a walk around your lawn. Do you notice any depressions or wet spots? Are the re areas where water is creating soil erosion or ponds and puddles after rainfall events? These are all excellent spots for rain gardens. An important thing to keep in mind - Rain gardens may be located near a drainpipe from a building’s roof (with or without rain barrels) but if there’s a basement, it is important to direct the rainwater to a location at least 30 feet away from the building.
Before you begin construction of your rain garden it is important to have your soil tested by your local agricultural extension agent. To find your agent you can contact Also keep in mind how you will capture the water in your rain garden. The water should spread itself evenly over the entire surface of the rain garden and not pool in areas. During very large storms the water will overflow and should be directed towards grassy areas, wooded areas or existing storm drains. For it to be effective in infiltrating storm water a typical rain garden should range from 100 to 300 square feet. Constructed perpendicular to the slope, a rain garden should be twice as long as it is wide. The depth (or how far you need to dig to - make the base of your rain garden level) should be between four to eight inches deep. Remember that no matter what the depth, it is important to keep the garden level. Also consider the soil particle size. Is your soil sandy silty or clayey? Sand has the fastest infiltration rate and clay has the slowest. Rain gardens in clayey soil must be bigger than those in sandy or silty soil because of clays slow rate of infiltration.
There is a lot of good free information to help you plan your rain garden. An excellent resource is the Rain Garden Manual for New Jersey put out by the Native plant Society of New Jersey. This step by step guide gives you all the information you need to plan and build a rain garden.
Rain Gardens
Prescription Drugs = Water Contamination
Posted: August 14, 2009
Over the past few years, scientists have been alarmed to find that many waterways now contain chemicals from prescription medicines. Hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals may be harming fish and are also appearing in drinking water supplies. In 2002, the US Geologic Survey found such contaminants in 80% of US streams. How did they get there? People are using toilets and garbage collection to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals, and from there, these drugs make their way into surface and groundwater supplies. This identification of this problem is so new that no government guidelines exist, but experts recommend: o Ask your pharmacy if they will take back medications. o Find out about household hazardous waste disposal days—in our area, this occurs on the first Saturday of June and November (double-check at the town hail by calling 973-347-2500 ext. 125). o Go to for other suggestions. o If you must put pharmaceuticals in the garbage, scratch out your name, add a small amount of water to pills or flour to liquids to discourage use of the drug by others, put them in another container to disguise them, and put them in the trash just before pick-up. This article courtesy of the Byram Township Environmental Commission, with information obtained from the AARP Bulletin ofJwmary 2007.2004 Master Plan
Posted: April 21, 2009
This is the official 2004 Master Plan.
Sussex County Vision 2020
Posted: April 17, 2009
Economic Development Report prepared by the Sussex County Planning Department and presented on March 30, 2009.
Available on the Sussex County webpage.
Planning Board Application Materials
Posted: April 09, 2009
This is the application for a Byram Township Land Use Board Variance Application - Lot Line Adjustment including ONE copy of the required W9. Please complete both forms.
This is the application for a Site Plan Waiver/Change of Use
The full site plan application package for commercial properties can be found here.
This is the fee schedule.
Top
Posted: March 04, 2009