Diane Birkbeck and Lee Widmann arranged to have a polinator garden planted on Lafayette Avenue earlier this summer.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR Residents concerned about the environment have asked the governing body to plant only native species on publicly owned properties.
Lee Widman, a member of the city's Ventnor Go Green movement, said the city should support efforts to eliminate invasive species and look to plant native species that are already adapted to the shore environment.
Widman made his remarks at the Aug. 25 Board of Commissioners meeting following Commissioner of Public Affairs Tim Kriebel's comments about working with green team members and residents to improve the environment and establish a nature park at Ventnor West.
Widman said it would be great if we could advocate and make sure we plant only native plants on school and municipal properties.
Benefits of using native species are they require less water and fertilizers, are resistant to pests, and offer sustenance for native wildlife, he said.
Commissioner of Public Works Lance Landgraf, who is also a professional planner, said the city can't tell people what to plant on their own properties, unless they are seeking relief of some kind from the Planning Board.
We do have land use regulations and a planting list, but if someone doesn't come to the Planning Board for relief, they can pretty much plant whatever they want, Landgraf said. We can suggest that, but I don't know if we can force people to plant certain things on their properties unless they are asking for relief.
Ventnor Solicitor Mark Nehmad said cities are able to restrict invasive species not native to the area.
I don't know of anything that can compel somebody to plant a specific type of tree or plant, he said.
Steve Jasiecki, who chairs Margate's green team, recently wrote an article for Downbeach.com that celebrated Eugene A. Tighe Middle School students' efforts to replant their school garden using only native species.
According to Jasiecki, Insects, birds and other pollinators co-evolved along with plants of their region, creating a symbiotic relationship. This relationship enables them to thrive, supporting each other through reproduction (pollination) and creating a food web that we call a food chain. When we break this chain by removing any of its links be it a plant, insect or animal we jeopardize the ecosystem and a decline in their population ensues.
Invasive plant species, such as the Asian Tree of Heaven that serves as the host plant for the extremely invasive spotted lanternfly that is making its way across the Eastern seaboard, and the dreaded Asian Bradford pear tree that rapidly spreads along highways, have crowded out native tree species beneficial to wildlife. The newest junk tree is the non-native Asian crepe myrtle, which offers minimal benefits to pollinators.
The Ventnor green team recently established a pollinator garden at the rear of the Ventnor Educational Community Complex to serve as a food source and breeding ground for Monarch butterflies, bees and other pollinators. The plants were provided by the Xerces Society, so named for the first butterfly to reach extinction.
Widman said it might be a good idea to promote native plants through contests or best garden competitions.
The green team can have a part in the contests, Kriebel said.
Resident Ramona Brigatta asked the city to develop a citywide plan to plant trees in the governor's strip to provide a habitat for birds and other animals and shade for humans walking the streets.
Kriebel said the Planning Board is strict about requiring street trees during the Planning Board approval process, which assists with stormwater control.
She noted there is a lot of support for the idea on the Ventnor Community Forum where she asked residents to weigh-in on reducing impervious surfaces. She plans to remove concrete from a section of her sidewalk so she can plant native trees, she said.
Brigatta also suggested some form of barrier to prevent trash and debris from blowing into the bay along Wellington Avenue from the Ventnor Plaza shopping center. The Surfrider Foundation South Jersey Chapter, which has members from all three Downbeach area green teams, conduct marsh cleanups twice a year.
Landgraf said he has contacted the owner of the shopping center to see if a landscape barrier can be installed at the edge of the shopping center parking lot to prevent trash from blowing into the marsh.
For more about what native plants are good for New Jersey, see jerseyyards.org.
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