Dear Hopatcong Borough,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Records requested: Whitman requests further information regarding the municipality-owned property located at 171 Stanhope-Sparta Road, Hopatcong, New Jersey. Whitman performed an environmental online database review of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Geoweb and LandUse Regulation landscape mapper to identify any sensitive habitats, species or special requirements for redevelopment at this property. According to the NJDEP Geoweb, the property is collocated in the Historic Preservation and Planning district of the Highlands in New Jersey. It was further identified at the Mott MacDonald December 16, 2017 presentation to the Hopatcong board that this particular property contains the following environmental factors (slide 24): Flood Hazard Areas, Freshwater Wetlands, Steep Slopes, and this property is within the Highlands Preservation Area. (The presentation identifies a Mr. John K. Ruschke, PE as the Borough Engineer.) Based on this information, the property is subject to the rules of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, NJSA 13:20-1 which the Borough of Hopatcong adopted into their Master Plan.

Whitman is seeking any and all information pertaining to the proposed redevelopment of the property as a shooting range. Please include: the Highlands Preservation Area Approval (HPAA), or a Highlands Applicability Determination (HAD), the Application for redevelopment and notice to the Highlands Water Protection Council (HPC) for disturbance of more than 2 acres in contiguous forested land, and/or the necessary permits or certification by the borough of Hopatcong pursuant to the Water Supply Management Act for impacting an ecologically sensitive natural receptor, a Land Use Regulation Program Letter of Interpretation specific to the HPA, and/or regulatory exemptions or any supporting documents or reports prepared by their consultant (Mott MacDonald) such as an Environmental Impact Study, Site Investigation Ecological Evaluation, Environmental Risk Assessment, and any documents, surveys or site plans, or schedules of development proposed.

If you have any question or comments regarding this submittal, do not hesitate to contact our office at 732-390-5858, ext 236.