Annette Barbaccia resigns Pinelands Commission

[bach2yoga]

the right time."

Very few people have the opportunity "to protect this wonderful
jewel," said Barbaccia, who credited an "industrious" commission staff
with making her time there rewarding.

"It's a small group of people, almost like a family. They're very
dedicated," she said.

Barbaccia, a former environmental policy director for New York City,
took the director's post nearly a year after the commission's longtime
executive director, Terrence D. Moore, resigned in the face of a
possible no-confidence vote among commissioners.

Moore's departure capped a time of sharp division between
commissioners who favored a more flexible application of Pinelands
development planning and those who pushed a stricter preservationist
approach. Last year, McGreevey made a sweep of new Pinelands
appointments, including ex-Gov. Florio, who promised to put the
commission's policies on a stricter track when it comes to reviewing
large development projects.

That shift was long sought by environmental activists, who contended
the commission had been too willing to bend environmental rules and
was vulnerable to pressure from local interests. At the time Moore was
forced out, the commission was in the process of rezoning former
farmland in Tabernacle to allow construction of a politically popular
regional high school.

Created in 1979, the commission has a $2.3 million annual budget to
oversee the comprehensive management plan that regulates development
on about one-fifth of the state's land mass.

[Ben Ruset]

They should put me on the panel.

[TeeGate]

Are you serious? If so, see what you can do about it.

Guy

[JeffD]

Yeah, New Jersey was Florio free in 93, now he's back in 2003. Hope he doesn't do too much damage in the time he says going to run the commission. I hope the other Mac Greedy syncophants. Maybe the next election will, as Cheryl Crow sings bring a change, change, will do you good...

[Ben Ruset]

Are you serious? If so, see what you can do about it.

Guy

I'm probably not qualified enough. All I do is run a website...

[bach2yoga]

JOHN STOKES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PINELANDS COMMISSION

Date: 030411
From: http://www.state.nj.us/pinelands/

BRINGS 23-YEARS OF PINELANDS PLANNING AND
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TO THE JOB.

April 11, 2003

New Lisbon - The Pinelands Commission unanimously approved the
appointment of John C. Stokes as Executive Director of the Pinelands
Commission at its monthly meeting here on Thursday evening. Stokes'
appointment comes two weeks after Annette Barbaccia announced her
resignation as Executive Director for personal reasons.

Pinelands Commission Chairman James Florio stated, "The entire
Commission is to be commended for its selection of John Stokes as
Executive Director. John brings a wealth of knowledge, first-hand
experience and the balanced view necessary to achieve the Commission's
goals in protecting the Pinelands. Furthermore, John's selection will
facilitate a smooth transition and allow the Commission to continue
uninterrupted with the important work before us. This decision is a
vote of confidence in John's achievements and abilities, and the
Commission looks forward to his support and guidance as Executive
Director. He has truly earned it."

One of the chief authors of the original Pinelands Comprehensive
Management Plan (CMP), Stokes started with the Commission in March
1980 as an Assistant Director. He was instrumental in bringing 52
Pinelands municipalities into conformance with the CMP and has built a
reputation as a consensus builder, leading efforts to develop a number
of cooperative partnerships. For example, he spearheaded the
development of a water resource planning, management and protection
project in the upper Mullica River basin of Camden County which is
implemented in cooperation with the county utility authority and three
municipalities.

Prior to joining the Commission, John Stokes served as Land and Water
Conservation Fund Grant Program Director for the US Department of the
Interior, Northeast Region. He first joined the Interior Department in
1972, serving in various policy and planning positions in Philadelphia
and Washington, DC. In 1979 he was awarded a National
Intergovernmental Fellowship. John is chairman of his hometown
planning board. Among other activities, he has also served as a member
of the his town environmental commission, treasurer of the Camden
County Council of Girl Scouts, assistant district administrator of the
National Little League and member of the Haddon Avenue Transit
Corridor Study Committee. Stokes holds a B.S. degree from North
Carolina State University. He is a New Jersey Professional Planner and
member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.