New Landscaping Rules

While the idea of shade trees in the parking lot was accepted, planting canopy trees was suggested as was having the islands in the parking lot as lawn, ground cover or shrubs.

A proposal for Millstone Commons East, a proposed shopping center in Pennsylvania, is one of the first applications to come before the Planning Board since the township enacted its landscape ordinance earlier this year, however, implementation of the suggestions could be quite expensive. The new ordinance is meant to raise the standards for landscaping in the community. The Township Committee adopted the ordinance, which the Planning and Zoning boards reviewed, to raise the standards for landscaping in the community. The ordinance requires developers to plant street trees. However, Millstone Commons East would be located on Route 33, which is not considered a typical street due to utility lines, setbacks and safety concerns.

The site will have a 6-foot deep stormwater detention pond in the rear and the basin could be a potential aesthetic feature for the site. Also proposed was a herbaceous border to help control the Canadian geese population plus the inclusion of benches near the retail stores, because such items better the community's quality of life.

In addition planters were proposed under the promenade of the larger building, which would contain seasonal plantings, however, such planters require maintenance. While the idea of shade trees in the parking lot was accepted, planting canopy trees was suggested as was having the islands in the parking lot as lawn, ground cover or shrubs. However, the board is still debating a way to balance a high value project in a way that makes economic sense.