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Seeing green
Big impact, big heart
Governor’s award recognizes town’s work toward sustainable future
Lawrence High’s Tolu Olajide excels at his two loves: community service and football
By RoB Anthes
By RiCh Fisher
As far as Rob Radice is concerned, there is just one way to describe Tolu Olajide as a football player. “He is an offensive lineman,” the Lawrence High football coach said. “He loves being an offensive lineman. That’s what he is. He’s an offensive tackle. He just loves it. It’s like, ‘No I don’t want to be a running back, I just want to go block somebody.’” The Cardinal senior is in full agreement. He played on the defensive line his first few years of high school but after being moved, he never had the desire to switch back despite the anonymity an offensive lineman endures. “I was so happy I was on the offensive side,” Olajide said. “I would say I’m a selfless person. I wasn’t in it for the accolades. I just wanted my team to win. I know it helped. I was good at the position and it helped us a lot.” Olajide was so good that he shared this year’s Charles J. “Fuzzy” Falzone Memorial Lineman of the Year award, presented by the 12th Man See OLAJIDE, Page 8
Rabiah Asif, a 2011 graduate of Lawrence High School, has worked to slow the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health official in Lawrence Township and in Philadelphia.
Community as cure As a public health official, Rabiah Asif plays a key role in COVID-19 fight By RoB Anthes
A 2011 graduate of Lawrence High School, Rabiah Asif is one of the many public health officials across the country attempting to slow the spread of COVID-19. Until last month, Asif worked as the Lawrence Township health department’s
health educator, also handling the township’s COVID contact tracing and contact monitoring. She started as the City of Philadelphia’s contact tracing coordinator Dec. 1. Asif, 28, said she takes a lot of pride in her work to help the community, particularly as a child of immigrants from Pakistan and a first-generation college graduate. She has learned early in her time in government that health is all about community. “I realized that it’s not always about the single person,” Asif said. “It’s more
about the community and how everything is connected and how you realize that there’s a bigger picture when looking at health concerns.” As her new title suggests, her primary duty in Lawrence and Philadelphia has been contact tracing—essentially calling residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 to find out what their symptoms were, who they were exposed to and with whom they had been in contact. Contact tracers then would follow up with contacts of the See ASIF, Page 5
HEALTH
HEADLINES M O N T H LY N E WS F R O M
Lawrence Township received a statewide award last month that serves as the culmination of years of environmental work and the launching point for a series of new green projects throughout town. In early December, the municipal government learned it had won the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award in the Climate Change and Clean Air category for work it has done to decrease its greenhouse gas emissions. The township accepted the award Dec. 14. Among the projects cited in the township’s award application are solar carports installed at the municipal building and police headquarters last year and solar panels installed on the roof of the public works building in 2019. The township estimates the solar panels will generate 85% of the electric for those buildings. “It is satisfying to be recognized as a community leading in efforts to be more sustainable in its operations,” Lawrence Township municipal manager Kevin Nerwinski said. “The work behind the scenes by some key township employees to accomplish this is substantial. To be recognized in this way validates our work and provides us with the motivation to press on.” Nerwinski credited, in See GREEN, Page 6
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LAWRENCE GAZETTE
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Snow fell Dec. 16 and 17, 2020, causing the Lawrence school district to cancel remote classes for the day. Township children took full advantage of the time. Top, Holden and Trent Michta show off their spiky-haired snowman. Middle left, Jaia Jordan is all smiles with her snowman. Middle right, Jonathan and Ashley Ostermann start a sled run. Bottom, Siyaanshi Jinna enjoys sledding.
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January 2021 | Lawrence Gazette3
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FOR COVID-19 FRONT-LINE WORKERS Through a statewide partnership, Capital Health is addressing the immediate emotional needs of all health care workers and emergency medical services personnel who have been on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes: … Individual supportive counseling and assessment … Virtual support groups … Mindfulness-based stress relief techniques … Referrals to mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment, if needed. If you or anyone you know needs to speak with someone, please call our helpline (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.):
609.303.4129 This program is a Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) brought to you by NJ Hope and Healing and Capital Health, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Disaster and Terrorism Branch, through a FEMA grant.
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ASIF continued from Page 1 person who tested positive. Close contacts—anyone within six feet of someone with COVID-19 for more than 10 minutes—receive a phone call or text message from the health department for 14 days to make sure they show no signs of having contracted the virus. The contact tracing effort has been a struggle nationwide as government employees have had to combat a skeptical populace as much as they have the fast-spreading coronavirus. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said, for example, that the rate of noncooperation with contact tracers in his state is 78% as of Dec. 14. “Remember, our contact tracers are not on a witch hunt,” Murphy said a week earlier, during a Dec. 7 press conference. “They are only concerned with stopping the spread of this virus.” Asif said she experienced this in Lawrence, with some people not being open to speaking with her because they did not trust her and believed she might share their personal information. She said she faces the same struggle in Philadelphia. Contact tracers collect very little data, Asif said, and use it only for contact tracing. Once the 14-day period ends, the health department will conduct a final follow-up call to make sure a person feels OK before closing the case. “We really just want to make sure that you’re doing OK and that your contacts are OK as well, just so we can prevent the spread of COVID,” Asif said. The challenge has increased as
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cases spike and people become discouraged with the pandemic—and restrictions due to it—still strong nearly a year later. In fact, in Philadelphia, COVID-19 has become so widespread that there are not enough contact tracers to call everyone with the virus. The city has 134 contact tracers. By comparison, Philadelphia had 1,041 new COVID-19 cases Dec. 11 alone. Contact tracing works best as a preventative measure when there is a small number of outbreaks, Philadelphia Department of Health spokesperson James Garrow said, so the health department there has opted to simply not call everyone. It is mostly being used right now to get an idea about the state of the virus in Philadelphia and to talk to people about government resources available to them, things like unemployment insurance benefits, food banks and other assistance. Asif said she also has seen misinformation fueling the spread of the virus, and tries to use her phone calls as an opportunity to educate people about COVID-19. Among the biggest misconceptions is that a person with COVID-19 is no longer contagious once they no longer have symptoms. Even those without symptoms can
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spread the virus, she said. Asif said the key to breaking the pandemic is to adhere to strict social distancing and to always wear a mask around anyone who doesn’t live in your household, even family members. “I think that [Lawrence is] doing everything that we’re supposed to be doing as a community, as far as wearing masks, keeping six feet apart,” she said. “And I think that’s really, really important for us to continue to do that. I don’t want people to get discouraged. Their efforts are working, and we just have to continue to do what we’re doing.” Asif has good reason to care about Lawrence, as it’s been key to Asif’s journey into public health. Asif attended Lawrence Township
‘I don’t want people to get discouraged. Their efforts are working.’ –Rabiah Asif
Public Schools, starting with Ben Franklin Elementary School. She graduated from Rutgers in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in public health, making her the first in her family to graduate from college. She went on to Drexel University, where she earned a master’s in public health in 2019. After graduation from Drexel, she began working full-time for the Lawrence Township health department. She had previously interned there in 2015. Although she no longer works fulltime in Lawrence, Asif continues to have strong roots in her hometown. She continues to serve on the township’s health advisory board, a role she’s held since 2016. Her family still calls Lawrence home, with her siblings Hamza, Momena and Abdullah all having graduated from LTPS.
Contact editor ROB ANTHES: ranthes@communitynews.org, (609) 3961511, ext. 124, facebook.com/RobAnthes, twitter.com/RobAnthes.
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January 2021 | Lawrence Gazette5
GREEN continued from Page 1 particular, councilman Christopher Bobbitt’s tenure as mayor in 2018-19. Bobbitt made sustainability the primary focus on his agenda, Nerwinski said. The major moment was in 2018, when Bobbitt pledged during the New Jersey Mayors’ Climate Summit to reduce Lawrence Township’s greenhouse gas emissions. “As an architect by practice, I see some of the impacts of climate change and how even at a local level you can help start to make a difference,” Bobbitt said. “I’ve been part of Sustainable Lawrence and the Green Team and growth and redevelopment— looking at it from both the business side and the environmental side—so that when I became mayor that just seemed a natural progression on something we could do. We’ve been silver certified with Sustainable Jersey for quite some time now, so it’s not as if Lawrence Township hadn’t been doing a lot of things.” The township participated in energy reduction programs in 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2018, switching to things like energy-efficient LED light bulbs. From the 2018 project alone, the municipal building saw a 35% reduction in energy. In 2017, the township completed a review of its carbon footprint as part of the process to be certified by Sustainable Jersey, and selected the municipal building, the police headquarters and the public works building as potential sites to install solar panels. Construction began on solar carports
.
The municipal complex on Lawrence Road features 958 solar panels. The township projects the panels will generate 85% of the power needed for the municipal building and police headquarters.
at the municipal building and police headquarters on Lawrence Road and roof-mounted panels at the public works building on Bakers Basin Road in 2019. Work finished installing 958 solar panels at the municipal complex in January 2020. The project at public works finished sooner, with the 110 panels there saving 56,884 pounds of emissions alone between September 2019 and September 2020, according to the township’s award application. The township also installed electric car chargers at the municipal complex in July 2020, and purchased two electric cars to replace two aging vehicles in the municipal fleet. It broadened its
Kids still LISTEN to their PARENTS…
land use ordinance to allow solar and wind power projects in all districts, and established a green committee, which will be tasked with helping develop a community energy plan. The energy plan, the township application said, is one of the next steps to showcase the township’s emissions reductions. Nerwinski said the township hopes to evaluate resiliency and sustainability on a larger scale while assembling the plan, and will involve community partners such as Sustainable Lawrence, Rider University and interested residents. The township has applied to the state Board of Public Utilities for a grant to help fund the community energy plan’s development. Nerwinski said he expects to hear from BPU about the grant in the next few months. Going forward, the township has begun installing solar panels at the senior center on Darrah Lane, using funds from Sustainable Jersey. The senior center’s energy usage is comparable to a small residential dwelling, the township said, with the solar panels there projected to generate all the energy the building needs. The township, in its award application, said it plans to use the senior center as a roadmap residents can replicate
Kids still LISTEN to their
with their own homes. The township also plans to review firehouses and emergency management services buildings to see if solar panels could be installed there. Bobbitt said he has been thinking of projects the township could pursue beyond solar panels. In 2021, the state of New Jersey will require municipalities to make some changes to how they deal with stormwater, and Bobbitt said the switch has him contemplating how to use the opportunity to consider how to further mitigate the effects of stronger storms, increased precipitation and more frequent flooding due to climate change. He said anything that’s not simply channeling the water back into the Assunpink Creek and toward the Delaware River would be a help, specifically mentioning rainwater gardens. The Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, for example, gained national acclaim for its use of rainwater gardens to absorb stormwater and prevent its combined sewer system from overflowing during storms. Bobbitt also said the pandemic has brought increased prominence to a question already circulating in Lawrence: how do we get around town without the use of the car? He mentioned installing more sidewalks and bike lanes as a potential solution, as is a map that shows safer paths for pedestrians and cyclists. The end goal would be to encourage and make easier the use of modes of transportation that don’t create greenhouse gas emissions like many automobiles do. While climate change and greenhouse gas emissions often seem like complex global issues, Bobbitt said the township has shown that steps can be taken on the individual and local level that add up to make a difference. “It’s better to try than to not do anything and sit on our hands,” he said.
Kids
The #1 reason kids choose NOT to drink is knowingPARENTS… Contact editor ROB ANTHES: ranthes@ communitynews.org, (609) 396-1511, ext. their parents disapprove.* The #1 124, facebook.com/RobAnthes, twitter. com/RobAnthes. The #1 reason kids choose NOT to drin Kids still LISTEN to their drink is knowing their parents of St. Ann in Lawrence. Help stop Community News Service Church PARENTS… He is survived by his wife Marguedisapprove. * remembers Mark Nebbia underage drinkingThe #1 reason kids choose NOT to Mark Nebbia passed away on SaturBe their parent, drink is knowing their parents day, Nov. 28, 2020 with his daughters Help stop underage drinking‐ * Leah-Michelle and Eva Nebbia by his not theirdisapprove. bartender. Be their parent, not their bartender. side. He was born in Ham-
ritte Korenz Nebbia, his two daughters, his brother Leo, sister-in-law Margarita, brother and sister-in-law Tom and Ria Korenz, his nephew Matthew and nieces Lauren, Amanda and Rachel. A memorial service was held Dec. 5 at St. Ann’s. In lieu ilton and has been a lifelong Help stop underage drinking‐ of flowers, donations can be resident of the area. *SAMHSA Be their parent, not their bartender. made in Mark’s name to the Mark was born on May 31, *SAMHSA Hepatitis C. Association or 1961 to the late Leo and Helen *SAMHSA Saint Ann School in Lawrence. Nebbia. He is a graduate of Mark had a lively and Steinert High School and The large personality, and always College of New Jersey. A vetEDUCATE. ENGAGE. EMPOWER. was ready with a joke or oneeran in ad sales, he was a wellliner. The Community News loved member of the Commuwww.mercercouncil.org office will be quieter and nity News Service team. less joy-filled without him. Mark’s favorite thing to do Nebbia PREVENTION COALTION OF MERCER COUNTY He will be missed dearly by was being with his daughJoin Us! all his coworkers, clients, ters. He enjoyed playing PREVENTION COALTION OF MERCER COUNTY 2nd Wednesdays of the month, 9-11AM friends, family and everyone golf, watching Yankees baseLike us on FacebookJoin at Us! ball, going to the movies, listening to with whom he crossed paths, though facebook.com/PCoMC comedy shows and reading about mili- our lives have been made richer having 2nd Wednesdays of the month, 9-11AM tary history. He was a member of the known Mark.
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OLAJIDE continued from Page 1 TD Club, with Robbinsville’s Aaden Butler. “That meant a lot to me especially during this pandemic and how hard this season was for everyone,” said Olajide, who credited his coaches and teammates for the award. “It felt great to be noticed for my hard work while only playing four games.” Those four games made quite an impression on the opposition. Radice noted that before each game the opposing coach would talk about how impressed they were watching Olajide on film. It’s a pretty amazing story considering Olajide quit the sport in 7th grade. Back then, he was far from the 6-foot-4, 287-pound specimen he transformed himself into. “I started with the Lawrence Lighting in fifth grade and played for a little bit, but I quit in seventh grade and started playing basketball,” Olajide said. “I wasn’t into it. When I was younger I wasn’t really as tough and aggressive. I wasn’t always tall, I was short and stocky.” At age 13, Olajide had a huge growth spurt, which made him want to try football again. The only problem was, his weight also shot up, and not in a good way. He got up to 295 pounds with much of it being fat. Olajide played freshman and JV football in 9th grade, and made varsity as a sophomore but did not play a down. “When I came in as a freshman I
Lawrence High School football senior Tolu Olajide won this year’s Charles J. “Fuzzy” Falzone Memorial Lineman of the Year award. (Photo by Sam Pastorella.)
was overweight, out of shape,” he said. “I wasn’t real enthused about football. I wasn’t sure that’s what I wanted to do to better myself in the future. Sophomore year I didn’t feel they gave me a fair shot but that just comes with football.” Radice returned for his second stint as head coach after that season and
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made an immediate impression on Olajide. “Things just started rolling when he came in my junior year,” Olajide said. “He had an orientation, and it was like a whole new program. He took the program over and I just transformed as a player and he just bettered me. He saw how tall I was and how much potential I had and how much better I could really be. He just helped me from there.” To hear Radice tell it, Olajide helped himself just as much. He worked hard enough to earn the starting job at left tackle his junior year, which led to him working even harder this past off-season. He went from 295 to 287 and, although that doesn’t seem like a big drop, it was a significant change since much of his fat turned to muscle. Olajide’s summer days featured morning workouts on the football field, followed by basketball in the afternoon and lifting in the evenings. “You could see by midway through his junior year this kid could really be a player,” Radice said. “He just kept getting better and when that season ended he went right to the weight room in the fall and winter, and early in the spring he was just in there killing himself. “You could see something clicked in him. I think he liked how he looked, I think it developed a huge amount of confidence in him that was the ticket to him believing in himself and his success. He really changed his body,
it was a testament to him. He was dedicated to improving his body.” As his physique improved, so did Olajide’s technique as a blocker. His aloofness from 9th grade turned into sheer tenacity. He displayed great feet and hips, loved attacking opponents and always played through the whistle, Radice said. “He’s a big body but he gets after you and he moves so well,” the coach said. “He can get to the next level, has really good feet. He can reach block, down block, double team, solo. He did it all for us.” Olajide felt his streamlined body was the key to his improvement. “When I started to lean up a little I got faster,” he said. “I was a lot smarter for a lineman so he said my smartness and technique helps a lot with the offensive line. I made that transfer to offensive line and never looked back.” He is now looking forward to a college career. Because he was a late bloomer and only had four games to show his wares as a senior, Olajide probably didn’t get as much attention from recruiters as he would have liked. Nonetheless, he has received offers from Assumption, Franklin Pierce and Stone Hill; and is in talks with Kutztown, New Hampshire and Wagner, where Notre Dame standout Ricky “Pop” Spruill is headed. Radice feels everything should be decided by late December or early January. Until then, Olajide will continue to hit the weight room and perform charitable services. He has taken part in the football team’s Reading Across America program, where they read to students at Ben Franklin, Slackwood and Eldridge Park elementary schools. His massive presence had some of the youngsters in awe. “He’s like a giant, the kids can’t get over him,” Radice said. “There was this one boy asking me how old I was,” Olajide said. “At the time I was only 16, and he couldn’t believe me. That was just a great experience. The kids were great.” Each Sunday, Olajide and his mom go grocery shopping with money her prayer group raises, and they donate the food to the homeless at the Conservatory Building in Trenton. Prior to the pandemic, he was a security guard at Calvary Full Gospel Church. His picture has appeared in this paper for reading to the students, but publicity is hardly his goal. “These things aren’t about taking pictures and showing everybody, ‘Hey I’m doing this,” Olajide said. “It’s just from the heart.” A heart that appears to be as big as his re-tooled body.
‘These things aren’t about taking pictures and showing everybody. It’s just from the heart.’ –Tolu Olajide, Lawrence High senior
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McLean signs with UConn
On Dec. 16, 2020, Lawrence High School senior Deon McLean signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Connecticut and play football next fall. Pictured are (front) mother Molenda Busch, Deon McLean, grandmother Debra Marshall, (back) Lawrence High athletic director Gregg Zenerovitz, assistant football coach Bayshawn Wells, head football coach Rob Radice, assistant football coach Drew Reca, assistant football coach Anthony Ammirata, Lawrence High School principal David Adam. (Photo by Sam Pastorella.)
Johnson signs with Denison
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Check Out Our Online Reviews 731 Route 33 • Hamilton 609-454-6500 On Nov. 24, 2020, Lawrence High School senior Kerstyn Johnson signed her National Letter of Intent to attend Denison University, where she will compete for the diving team. Pictured are Kerstyn Johnson (center) and her parents Peter and Sharyn. (Photo by Sam Pastorella.)
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lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer. When should I have my first colonoscopy? Dr. Eisengart: The American Societyour of Colon and Rectal Surgeons recSee ads in ommends that individuals consider SIX09 section their first 7screening at age 45. On the pgs 5 and other hand, men and women who have By Dr. Howard Hardy III and Dr. a personal or family history of colorecCharles Eisengart tal cancer, polyps or a personal history RWJ-104 Heroes Work Here_4.313x11.25_HAM.indd 4/17/20 1:21 PM bowel disAlthough colorectal cancer 1 is the of long-term inflammatory second-leading cancer killer among ease may need to be screened before men and women in the U.S., it is a age 45 to develop a baseline. It’s best preventable, treatable and curable to discuss your risk factors with your disease if caught early. The best way physician to determine when you to catch colorectal cancer early is to should begin screenings. How often do I need a screen for it. According to colonoscopy? the Centers for Disease Dr. Hardy: ColonosControl and Prevention, copies are recommended only 59 percent of people of every 10 years if no polscreening age go through yps are detected. If polyps with today’s available tests. are detected, it is recomThis year, the American mended that the patient Cancer Society expects have another surveillance over 101,610 new cases colonoscopy in three to five of colon cancer and over years. Again, if you are at 43,340 new cases of rectal high risk, have a family hiscancer to be diagnosed. Dr. Hardy tory, or have had colon canHoward Hardy III, MD, cer before, speak with your and Charles Eisengart, MD, from Robert Wood Johnson physician about how often you should University Hospital Hamilton, an have the procedure. Are there any warning signs of RWJBarnabas Health facility, offer insight on screening recommenda- colorectal cancer? Dr. Hardy: Adults should talk to tions for colorectal cancer outlines warning signs and lifestyle changes to their family and doctors to determine
Ask The Doctor
their family history, but they should also know the following warning signs and symptoms: a change in bowel habits that lasts for more than a few days, including diarrhea, constipation, or a sensation that your bowel is still not empty after a bowel movement; bright red or very dark blood in your stool; constant tiredness; stools that are thinner than usual; stools that appear slimy or that have a mucous film on them; persistent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps; unexplained weight loss; or vomiting. Is colorectal cancer genetic? Dr. Hardy: While a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer, genetics still play a major role. Colon cancer can often be caused by genetic factors, or mutated genes that are inherited from our ancestors and immediate family members. Genetic testing may provide peace of mind to those with a history of family illness and can eliminate the need for unnecessary checkups. For individuals with high colorectal cancer risk factors, screening should begin at an earlier age and they should be screened more often. How can I prevent colorectal cancer? Dr. Hardy: Many lifestyle-related factors have been linked to colorectal cancer. Some lifestyle changes that help to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer and to promote overall wellness and colon health include: exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week; maintaining a healthy weight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18-25; limiting alcohol consumption; and stopping smoking and/or using tobacco. Schedule an appointment with Howard Hardy, III, MD at (609) 896-1700.
Coming up this month at RWJUH-Hamilton Wednesday, January 6
The Psychology of Clutter: Learning to Let Go. (609) 584-5900. Explore how clutter affects your mood and attitude, how to overcome the emotional ties to your “stuff” and how to let go. Whether
downsizing or creating healthier surroundings, this discussion is for you. Shirley Roberts, MA, LPC, NCCVirtual class. Call to register. 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 7
Healthy Bones. (609) 584-5900. Join, Sara I. Ali, MD, Geriatric & Internal Medicine to learn how diet, physical activity and other lifestyle factors can affect your bone mass. Virtual class. Call to register. 1 p.m.
Monday, January 11
Plant Based Comfort Foods. (609) 5845900. Cold winter months often center on feel good food…and that’s OK! Learn how to optimize delectable down home favorites into wholesome recipes that the whole family will enjoy. With Alyssa Luning, RD, CSOWM, registered dietitian/ board certified specialist in obesity &andweight management. Virtual class format. Call to register. 6:15 p.m.
Tuesday, january 12
Fireside Chat. (609) 584-5900. Learn about CHF—its causes, signs and symptoms, diet, when to notify the MD/NP, and more. With Ann Mancuso, BSN, RN, CHFN. Virtual class. Call to register. 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, january 19
Healthy Mind, Healthy Aging. (609) 5845900. Join Shirley Roberts, MA, LPC, NCC and Community Health Educator, to learn what it means to take care of our brain and cognitive function. Shirley will also touch on our emotions and psychological health. Participation exclusive to Better Health members. Virtual class. Call to register. 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, january 26
Navigating the Medicaid Process. (609) 584-5900. ustin Scott, Esq. and author of Senior Shakedown: Unknown Dangers of Getting Old, and How to Protect Your Loved Ones, discusses the process and benefits of Medicaid. Participation exclusive to Better Health members. Virtual class. Call to register. 3 p.m.
Wednesday, january 27
Catch That Fall Before it Happens. (609) 584-5900. Winter weather can create risks, and a fall can be life-changing. Join physical therapist Dr. Maureen Stevens and occupational therapist Sarah Masco to learn about risk factors, prevention and staying safe both inside and outside. Virtual class. Call to register. 1 p.m.
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10 Lawrence Gazette | January 2021
• Foundation Restoration • Wall & Floor Coatings • All types of Masonry repairs • Sump Pumps Installed & Serviced
A bit on the planning and zoning process KEVIN NERWINSKI FROM ThE MANAGER’S DESK
Planning board and zoning board hearings on development applications, at times, stir powerful emotions from residents who believe approval would negatively impact them. Their fear of a change to the quality of life causes them to direct and project their anger towards those they feel are responsible. On Nov. 16, I, along with other planning board members, sat through three hours of site plan application by Amazon for a last-mile facility on Princess Road, and rendered a decision that was supported by the facts and the law. I want to be clear: I am not employed by Amazon; I am not the owner of the commercial property on Princess Road; I did not have anything to do with coming up with the idea of developing the commercial lot into a warehouse; I didn’t have anything to do with establishing the zoning for Princess Road to permit warehouses and other industrial buildings to be situated on it (that happened decades ago); I didn’t have anything to do with the approval and construction of The Gatherings which was built well after Princess Road was zoned for commercial development. I, along with the other board members, are “involved” with the application because of our membership on the planning board and for no other reason. Despite the preceding paragraphs, this article is not about any particular application before the planning board or the zoning board, but rather to discuss how applications for developments come to be and the role and the responsibilities of the planning/zoning boards have in deciding to approve or deny them. Many books about this subject contain hundreds of pages referencing statutes and cases that you can read to be better informed. Still, I offer the following insights knowing that your daily lives are too busy to allow you the luxury of actually reading a textbook on zoning/planning laws. The goal is to provide you some context about development applications and how and why the boards make decisions. First, you should know that almost all of the development applications heard by the boards are initiated by private citizens or private businesses, not your governing body or township officials. Second, every single application that complies with the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law and the Township Land Use Ordinance requirements must be accepted, processed, reviewed by township professionals and ultimately decided by either the planning or zoning boards after a full and fair hearing. When I say every single application, I mean it. For example, suppose the Lawrence Shopping Center wants to make an application for developing an amusement park that will cover every inch of the property, or a local church wants to build a 50,000-seat stadium
next to Lawrence Road. In these cases, despite their absurdity, the application must be accepted and a hearing ultimately scheduled so the board members can decide to either approve or deny. Third, each board member must consider the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law, the Lawrence Township Land Use Ordinance, the testimony of the fact witnesses, the testimony of expert witnesses and the comments offered during public participation by residents, property owners or business owners before rendering their decision. Finally, the mere fact that an application becomes a hearing before a board in no way, shape or form, should cause you to believe that “the township” endorses it or wants it approved and made a reality. That would be a false assumption. (Also note, that neither the LSC nor a local church has any plans like the hypotheticals above.) The Lawrence Township Planning Board currently has 11 voting members—eight residents of the community appointed by the governing body, the mayor, a council member and the municipal manager. The board’s duties include supervision over the drafting of the master plan for the township (reviewed every six years), reviewing proposed ordinances to make sure they comply with the master plan and reviewing and deciding every application for a proposed subdivision, development or building project (site plan) to ensure compliance with our land ordinance. The board has the power to grant specific variances (a request to deviate from a current zoning requirement) that have to do with the shape
and size of buildings and plots of land. The Lawrence Township Zoning Board of Adjustment (also known as the zoning board) has nine voting members appointed by the governing body. The board’s sole authority is to review development and building applications which require a use variance. In addition to the bulk size and shape requirements, each parcel of land is assigned a particular use or set of uses which are permitted under the master plan and zoning ordinance. Any different use needs a variance. For example, building a commercial property in an area zoned only for residential use would go to the zoning board for review and decision. The residents that serve on these boards are volunteers. They donate their time reviewing plans and attending hearings (often late into the evening) and, for the most part, do not receive much, if any, appreciation from their fellow residents. Though it is an important job, it is thankless. But knowing the members as I do, they don’t do the work to receive appreciation; they do it out of their sense of community volunteerism and believing themselves capable of the critical task. Though many believe that these boards can vote to deny applications because they are unpopular with a group of vocal residents who attend the hearings in opposition, a denial of the application that bows to peer pressure may not end the application process. New Jersey law sets forth specific guidelines as to when applications should and should not be granted. Notably, the members of these boards take an oath that swears them
to ”faithfully, impartially and justly perform all the duties” of the board. I witnessed first-hand board members honor this oath, understanding full well that their decision to grant or deny an application will disappoint someone or many. Should a board vote “no” without a basis in law or fact on an application, the applicant can (and often does) appeal the decision to the Superior Court of New Jersey. Significantly, the judge who is assigned to hear the appeal is not influenced by public opinion, and his/her job is strictly to apply the law. The judge will consider the application’s facts and apply the law to determine whether the Board’s decision should be overturned, upheld, or if the board should look at the application again. This provides a check, ensuring that the law is enforced. Therefore, applicants that follow the law can count on their application being granted by appealing to the court. For the curious, do a Google search for the following New Jersey cases: “The Pizzo-Mantin Case,” “Toll Brothers v. West Windsor Case” or “W.L. Goodfellows and Co. v. Washington Township Planning Board,” and you will get a better sense that a board’s denial is meaningless if the law or the facts don’t support it. I hope this gives you a better understanding of the process and a better appreciation for the responsibilities residents undertake when they volunteer their time to serve on these boards. Kevin Nerwinski, a longtime resident of Lawrence, serves as Lawrence Township’s municipal manager.
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January 2021 | Lawrence Gazette11
Mercer County Curbside Recycling Information All recyclables must be in official buckets and at the curb by 7:00 a.m. • NO ITEMS IN PLASTIC BAGS WILL BE COLLECTED
2021 MERCER COUNTY Curbside Recycling Schedule MONDAY Lawrence
TUESDAY Ewing
Princeton
July 12, 26 Aug. 9, 23 Sep. 11, 20 Oct. 4, 18 Nov. 1, 15, 29 Dec. 13, 27
Jan. 11, 25 Feb. 8, 22 Mar. 8, 22 Apr. 5, 19 May 3, 17 June 5,14, 28
Jan. 4, 18 Feb. 1, 15 Mar. 1, 15, 29 Apr. 12, 26 May 10, 24 June 7, 21
WEDNESDAY
July 5, 19 Aug. 2, 16, 30 Sep. 13, 27 Oct. 11, 25 Nov. 8, 22 Dec. 6, 20
Entire City of Trenton July 7, 21 Jan. 6, 20 Aug. 4, 18 Feb. 3, 17 Mar. 3, 17, 31 Sep. 1, 15, 29 Apr. 14, 28 Oct. 13, 27 May 12, 26 Nov. 10, 24 Dec. 8, 22 June 9, 23
Hamilton Zones 1 and 4 Jan. 13, 27 July 14, 28 Feb. 10, 24 Aug. 11, 25 Mar. 10, 24 Sep. 8, 22 Apr. 7, 21 Oct. 6, 20 May 5, 19 Nov. 3, 17 June 2, 16, 30 Dec. 1, 15, 29
FRIDAY
HOLIDAY COLLECTIONS
Hamilton Zone 3
Jan. 2,15, 29 Feb. 12, 26 Mar. 12, 26 Apr. 9, 23 May 7, 21 June 4, 18
If collection day falls on a holiday (Christmas, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving) collection will be the following SATURDAY.
July 2, 16, 30 Aug. 13, 27 Sep. 10, 24 Oct. 8, 22 Nov.5, 19 Dec. 3, 17, 31
Hopewell Township Hopewell Boro and Pennington
Jan. 12, 26 Feb. 9, 23 Mar. 9, 23 Apr. 6, 20 May 4, 18 June 1, 15, 29
July 13, 27 Aug. 10, 24 Sep. 7, 21 Oct. 5, 19 Nov. 2, 16, 30 Dec. 14, 28
THURSDAY
Hamilton Zone 2
Jan. 14, 28 Feb. 11, 25 Mar. 11, 25 Apr. 8, 22 May 6, 20 June 3, 17
July 1, 15, 29 Aug. 12, 26 Sep. 9, 23 Oct. 7, 21 Nov.4, 18 Dec. 2, 16, 30
July 6, 20 Aug. 3, 17, 31 Sep. 14, 28 Oct. 12, 26 Nov. 9, 23 Dec. 7, 21
Jan. 5, 19 Feb. 2, 16 Mar. 2, 16, 30 Apr. 13, 27 May 11, 25 June 8, 22 West Windsor
Jan. 7, 21 Feb. 4, 18 Mar. 4, 18 Apr. 1, 15, 29 May 13, 27 June 10, 24
SPECIAL RECYCLING EVENTS Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Electronics Recycling Events Dempster Fire School (350 Lawrence Station Road) March 27, June 05 and September 11 / 8AM - 2PM
July 8, 22 Aug. 5, 19 Sep. 2, 16, 30 Oct. 14, 28 Nov. 11, 27 Dec. 9, 23 OPEN TO ALL MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS!
Document Shredding Events Lot 4/651 South Broad Street (across from Mercer County Administration Bldg.), April 10 and October 9 / 9AM - 12PM
Get the FREE ‘Recycle Coach’ APP!
NEVER MISS ANOTHER COLLECTION DAY! Scan the code for instant access to all your recycling needs! MUNICIPAL RECYCLING AND PUBLIC WORKS: Ewing / 882-3382 Hamilton / 890-3560 Hopewell Boro / 466-0168 Hopewell Twp / 537-0250 Lawrence Twp / 587-1894
Pennington Boro / 737-9440 Princeton / 688-2566 Trenton / 989-3151 West Windsor / 799-8370
East Windsor, Hightstown, Robbinsville: Call your Recycling / Public Works Office for your recycling schedule
Mercer County Participates in MERCER COUNTY
RECYCLES
SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING; ALL Recyclables EITHER Bucket! No more separation anxiety!
Mercer County Improvement Authority / 609-278-8086 / www.mcianj.org 12 Lawrence Gazette | January 2021
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