I thought I heard or read that RT owns the front of 140 where cc wants to put a right turn lane. At the meeting they reference that there would be a right turn lane going there, but I thought that was an old railroad something that RT owned. Anyone remember?
That's correct, the town does own that land. CC doesn't seem to care though. They will cry foul and run to RLUIPA if the town doesn't agree to allow the access lane.
TGFK. (Thank God For Karen). The smell is gone from our msg board.
That is absolutely right. The town owns the frontage. Its an old RR access. Funny how CC is moving ahead with plans that REQUIRE (mandated by the County DOT) a turning lane across land that they dont even own. Minor detail I guess. They dont seem to be concerned with the details. Just like their first suit naming Lt. Mayor Brennan or their revision naming a guy who isnt even on the council yet, or their revision to the revision, taking him off and putting Gene back on. If there wasnt the possibility of such disaster to RT, this would make a good comedy.
Isn't that the property where were planning to build "Green Pond Road Recreational Park?" We were going to construct that for the kids who attend the day care center across the street and others who might enjoy such a park in that area of town. So, I am certain that the good rev would never even consider using that property for his own needs, being the civic oriented man that he is!
I know I have said this before... but I heard rev ire say publically that GPR is a county issue, not an RT issue... and he seemed to give the indication that the county would accomodate the widening of the road once the site is approved... perhaps his counsel knows something others don't... or they have told him that will be the easy part after RT lets him in
So are you saying that the county will buy up the houses on GPR plus buy the property that RT owns in front of 140 to widen the road all for cc? I don't think that makes too much sense. And if they widen it on the other side then they are in Highlands area, aren't they? All the fill they would have to put in. I just don't think the County would do that for cc and for no other reason.
If I were Ireland, I think that the stratedgy that I would use is to get approved and let the traffic situation be whatever it may be. I would just let it go nuts.
Then, I would demand that the county and RT fix the problem 'casue my flock can not get to my place of business on sundays on time.
Then, if I was not accomodated by those two governmental agencies, I would sue both for not providing the appropriate accomodations for my ever growing institution.
If they widen GPR, don't they also need to widen Meriden Road and Diamond Spring Road to handle the exiting traffic? Better also build a second lane onto the route 80 exit and entrance ramps also while they're at it. It probably would be cheaper for the county to just buy the Hercules site and give it to them. This whole thing is nuts.
Is it possible that if traffic is just allowed to go nuts, that the town/county would be compelled simply by necessity, to do whatever is necessary to control traffic?
What if there were suddenly a bunch of houses or a business built up green pond that, even unexpectedly, caused traffic problems, wouldn't they be forced by virtue of their duties to the community, to make whatever changes are needed to keep the roads safe?
That way the rev wouldn't have to say a word--it would just happen.
Sorry but I don't know the answer to any of that other than he seemed to indicate that the "county road issue" was not a big issue to the development of the "campus" & that the real issue was RT
Perhaps CC thinks after RT approves the site everything else will be easy
I thought that traffic was a municipal issue, otherwise why are the PB meetings hearing testimony re traffic? How can the PB give approval and leave it up to the county and state to solve the problem in ten or twenty years? Hopefully you're not saying that the application can be granted without having a plan in place on day one to handle the traffic. Please say it isn't so.
that I have no idea on as well... I am only saying what he said about the road being a county issue& that in my opinion it did not seem to concern him as he moves forward
I"s it possible that if traffic is just allowed to go nuts, that the town/county would be compelled simply by necessity, to do whatever is necessary to control traffic?"
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I think that is EXACTLY part of his stratedgy. And if it came to pass that the County and the Township do not step up to the plate, clearly, he would sue both governmental agencies to assure his proper accomodation.
"I think that is EXACTLY part of his stratedgy. And if it came to pass that the County and the Township do not step up to the plate, clearly, he would sue both governmental agencies to assure his proper accomodation."
If this is true, why hasn't other religious organizations done things and get a free ride? There has to be boundaries here. There are many other churches I'm sure that would love to grow but can't afford to. If they can sue, get help from the County and Township why haven't more done so? I don't think the rev has a leg to stand on. ESPECIALLY, and this is important, his church is not from Morris County and has not been here in a smaller version. Just my opinion.
Firstly, I do not think that too many Townships in NJ have been through the "Mega-experience" that we are "enjoying". Most churches do not place these sorts of demands on their respective local infrastructures; only a Megabusiness will do that. Keep in mind that normal Megabusinesses pay taxes and help defray costs, unlike (so called) churchesl like irelands.
As for the fact that they are not from Morris, I suspect that is totally legally irrelevent, unfortunately. If they come, we will have to support them and that will cost us big bucks coupled with a total destruction of our tranquil way of life out here.
BTW - as we live here on Meriden Rd, we are waiting for the good rev to recommend that RT converts Meriden and Farber Hell Road into one-way streets as an alternative to widening them in order to accomodate the exiting traffic created by his sunday flock. He will get to that, I am sure. I am sure that he could care less what it does to the neighborhood traffic situation.
Converting Meriden and Farber Hill to one way really doesn't seem to help from CC's perspective, does it? If that were done, you would have two lanes of traffic heading for the intersection at Diamond Spring Road. Then what? Does Diamond Spring become one way also heading for the center of Denville?
At Diamond Spring, half of the traffic could go right towards Denville while the remaining half could turn left to Powerville Rd to Fanny Hill Rd to 287. So, the one-way could be limited to the streets that I mentioned.
Personally, I think that the idea would be nuts. But then again, this whole situiation with cc is nuts and anything goes.
In that case it sounds like there may be more traffic lights needed. Such as one to assist people making a left on Diamond Spring Road. What about when even half of the exiting traffic heads toward Denville and either clogs the center of town or makes a left on Pocono Road and clogs the roads getting to St Clares Hospital. What about the ambulances that need to access the Hospital as quickly as possible? There are so many problems that such a plan would create that it is beyond comprehension that such a plan would ever be approved. And for what? A megchurch/business that isn't even here yet? Doesn't sound like a traffic solution remotely likely to be seriously considered. Boonton Twp, Denville and Mountain Lakes will absolutely not allow this in a million years.
My understanding is that the other towns that you mentioned have no say in the matter, just RT. If we impact their traffic situation, that is for them to deal with or so I am told. Clearly, they do not have the legal standing to say anything at a PB meeting about this situation.
Yes, the situation is crazy. Basically to accomodate his business, we will have to turn the entire corridor that you referred to into a city like system of traffic lights and one way streets.
Both of our families came from the city of Newark but my wife and I moved out here to get away from the congestion, - - - certainly not to have a city re-emerge around us. The question is "do we have any say in this or does an outsider have more rights and say in the matter than a local taxpayer?"
I seem to recall something about a county planning board needing to approve the traffic plan. Assuming that is the case, I would guess that the chances of the plan that you suggest passing would be somewhere between slim and none given the influence of the communities that would be impacted. Do you think that's incorrect?
I do not know about the mechanics of how the county deals with a problem like this. Who has priority, a township or a county? It seems that ire-land is seeking township approval first for some reason. That must have something to do with the legal priorities associated with the decision process. Does anyone know how it works?
From what I understand the county wants to see that the plan has approval before they will give a final approval. It looks like the planning board would have to give approval contingent on all other approvals being granted but other governing bodies - Morris county, State of NJ, federal gov... Not 100% sure but I think thats the way that would run.
