Letter: Large Development in New Milford Will Impact Oradell and River Edge
Proposed United Water development in New Milford has no benefits for River Edge and Oradell residents
To The Editor:
Oradell and River Edge residents have reason to be concerned about the proposed enormous Hekemian development at the intersection of New Milford Avenue and River Road near the Oradell border.
For example, covering the sixteen acre property with 200 housing units, a 70,000 sq. ft supermarket, large parking garage and a bank will reduce the amount of water that would otherwise be absorbed by the land. River Edge and Oradell will suffer the consequences flood waters destructive of property and increased municipal costs to cope with the flooding.
In addition, the cost of maintaining the paved streets near the development is likely to be increased because higher volume and heavier vehicles require higher quality (probably more expensive) paving materials etc.
River Edge and Oradell will feel the increase in taxes to the county for maintaining the county roads that will experience higher volume and heavier traffic. I am not as familiar with local traffic patterns in River Edge as with those in Oradell. I foresee that higher municipal taxes in Oradell will be required to pay to maintain the many Borough streets that will also experience heavier use because of the development. For example, New Milford Avenue, Elm Street, Kinderkamack Road, Grant Avenue, Ridgewood Avenue and the other feeder streets will require higher grade materials able to handle the heavier demand.
The proposal has too many costs for too few benefits. Want to have an impact? New Milford residents convened a group, SOD - Stop Over Development. Contact SODNOW@yahoo.com
Regina C. Little
Oradell
Martha
4:45 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Thank you Regina!
You hit the mark spot on! This development will have a negative impact not just to New Milford, but to Oradell and River Edge, and other surrounding towns.
If you would like to hear first hand about the monstrosity of this project, please attend the "Special " Zoning Board meeting this Monday, July 30, at 7PM at the New Milford Boro Hall (930 River Road, New Milford). It is the best "free" ticket in the tri-state area! You will not be disappointed! All are welcome!
miriam pickett
8:12 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Thanks, Regina. It is imperative that residents of all three communities join together to fight overdevelopment projects. We are all affected by this kind of thoughtless, overblown plan. Hope to see you and other Oradell and River Edge residents Monday night.
SOD/CAPO !!!
JSK
12:02 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
Agreed – the only one to benefit from this will be the developer. The inevitable burden of flooding, traffic and infrastructure costs will rest with the residents of New Milford, Oradell and River Edge.
Bruce
10:51 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Refurbishing the Water Works Building is shot down because of traffic and other reasons; and this just sails along and gets approved. What a joke!
Denise
11:38 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
By the time and IF this debacle goe's through. the Water Works Building will probably not be standing, it will fall down on it's own. Heavy building equipment & trucks rumbling through, etc will not help, since bricks are falling out & cracks are in the building already.I have a visual, between the building of ShopRite and the refurbishing of the Elm Street bridge, thank goodness, I may be wrong, but I don't believe trucks will be allowed to cross it.
SOD/CAPO OUT! (as in "far out" for the people of the age)
Todd vandeweghe
12:17 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Grant no variances for this project and it will die on it's own. If not how many New Milford school days will be lost to flodding? What about the additional expense to the taxpayers from damage to the school adjacent to this property. Every propety owner downstream from this development should be objecting to it. River Edge Elizabeth St residents and New Bridge Rd businesses will have regrets if the don't voice their concern. What happens when the storm runoff from this property just happens to come up against a rising tide?
David Bednarcik
11:12 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Can we please stop any future development in our area. THis project will cause more flooding in an already flood prone area.
David