Cranbury Committee Drops Proposal to Mark Public Paths

Green dots caused a bit of contention at last week’s Cranbury Township Committee meeting. Under a proposal the committee decided not to adopt, the dots would have been painted on streets marking public access—or easements—to Cranbury’s public parks, open spaces and avenues to other neighborhoods.

However, some township residents objected to the plan, saying it infringes on their private property and may cause safety hazards. The easements, which in some cases go through homeowner’s property lines at places like the Shadow Oaks development, allow members of the public the chance to essentially walk through or adjacent to their property. They exist whether or not they are marked.

The Township Committee invited members of the public, about 40 of whom showed up to the meeting, to comment on the proposal.

Evan Janovitz, a nine-year resident of Washington Drive, spoke out against the plan and said that there are several reasons why the easement markings should not happen. “I don’t like the idea that the general public can walk through people’s yards without being announced, without being invited and the easements are right next to private property,” he said.

Cranbury resident Kathy Easton, who supported the green dot concept, circulated a nearly 180-signature petition around town in support of the project. She said she was very interested after she discovered that there were 46 acres of public land and several easements throughout the town. “I support the marking of the easements with the green dots because it is public land and the dots are a subtle way to help anyone who wanted access to get there,” she said.

Township Committee members indicated that that they would not take the issue up again, essentially stopping the plan, but a future committee could revisit the issue.

Back in 2007, the concept of marking easements was introduced under the township’s Master Plan.  Sixteen months ago, Cranbury’s Parks Commission proposed the idea of the dots, which would have been about the size of a Frisbee, being placed on the streets. At that time, the Township Committee created a sub-committee to examine the feasibility of the plan.

At some , committee members indicated that they were against the plan and took a straw poll to determine that the dots were not the way to go. Last week, the committee echoed that sentiment.

 “I’m not for physically marking the easements,” Committeeman David Cook said.  “I don’t believe in encouraging people to go where they may be hurt.”