Save Monmouth County before it's too late

More than half the people in the United States live within 50 miles of the ocean, and as this national shift continues, coastal environments like Monmouth County are expected to deteriorate from over-development. As more people move here, the very land that enchants us - the beaches, farmlands, rolling hills, rivers, streams and woodlands - will wind up under asphalt and concrete.

About 55,000 acres in Monmouth are available for development, and we are losing about 7,000 to 10,000 acres a year. Because developers are rushing to get projects approved, we have eight years - probably less - before Monmouth County is completely developed.

Then developers will focus on redevelopment and overdevelopment as existing buildings are torn down to build larger offices and shopping malls, and denser condominiums and apartments. Even as open space draws to a close in western Monmouth, redevelopment and overdevelopment of eastern Monmouth is well under way.

This is a crisis not only of open space, but of our well-being. As populations increase, preserving open space is no longer just about saving landscapes and wildlife, but about saving our quality of life, our health and our environment from the persistent problems of land, water and air pollution. Even our water supplies are at risk.

Our horse farms in western Monmouth are falling to McMansions, while our entire coastline from the Bayshore to Brielle is being redeveloped.

For example, Long Branch's beachfront redevelopment brings with it very high population densities and reduced oceanfront access and recreation. Asbury Park faces the same dilemma.

Traffic congestion throughout the county is so bad that it can take 20 minutes to drive through Red Bank at midday, while one Marlboro resident told me he can walk to Freehold faster than he can drive.

Monmouth voters have overwhelmingly supported the state's Green Acres program to protect open space, and our Board of Freeholders has continued to strongly support open space and farmland preservation. However, we must do more. Uncontrolled growth and poor planning have created a crisis at the very same time that we face serious governmental budget cuts on the local, state and national levels.

To make matters worse, more than 14,000 acres of federal and state-owned land in Monmouth County are at risk of development. Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook, Fort Monmouth, Marlboro State Hospital and Brisbane Child Treatment Center are all in danger of privatization and commercialization as government officials attempt to curb deficits by placing public lands up for sale or lease.

We can stop this but we must act now. Municipalities must enact and enforce ordinances to control overdevelopment, such as limiting building heights and density, while preserving shade trees, woodlands, wetlands and other critical open spaces.

Our county and state officials must know we care enough about preservation to pay for it, and that saving open space is more cost effective than development. We have the numbers. We can prove it.

Monmouth County is a very special place. Let's save it before it is too late.

Judith Stanley Coleman

president

Monmouth Conservation Foundation

Middletown

This spring, go native

By now, you're probably anticipating spring and making landscaping and gardening plans. Whether you're a passionate gardener or just want to dress up your yard a little, native plants are for you.

Native plants are simply those that naturally occur in this area. Native plants are naturally adapted to our climate and soils. And they're also part of the rich diversity of New Jersey's plant and animal life.

We have systematically paved over and developed much of our landscape and many of New Jersey's native plants have been replaced with grassy lawns of every shape and size.

Using native plants can be a wonderful complement to your landscape plans. Because they co-evolved with our native wildlife, they are often better sources of food and shelter than non-natives.

And since they are naturally adapted to our climate, native plants are generally heartier in the face of drought and other severe weather.

So where do you start?

First evaluate your lawn. Do you like to entertain? Or do your children like to run around outside? Or, is your yard just a palette for your creations? Or is it just a burden needing constant and monotonous mowing?

In all of these situations, replacing portions of your lawn with native plantings can be a great benefit. You'll spend less time mowing and use less harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Also, your yard evaluation will determine the kinds of plants to include - trees if you want shade, for example, or shrubs for visual impact.

In addition, take a little time to get to learn about your soils. Are they sands or clays? Is your lawn shady or sunny? This will help determine which native plants are best suited for your home.

Be bold, use a broad range of plants - trees, shrubs and ground-cover - that grow together naturally. These mini-ecosystems will attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

A healthier environment more in tune with nature and less yard work; if that's not a win-win, I don't know what is.

Check out these resources to help select the native

plants best for you: The

Delaware Riverkeeper Network,

www.delawareriverkeeper.org/factsheets/native_plants.html, Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, www.bhwp.org; and the Native Plant Society of New Jersey, www.npsnj.org.

Michele S. Byers

executive director

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Far Hills