Church proposal queried by DEP Township hearing pushed to Sept. 11 Wednesday, July 12, 2006 BY PAULA SAHA Star-Ledger Staff Christ Church's quest to build a campus in Rockaway Township is going to go on a bit longer.
The state Department of Environmental Protection sent a letter to the Rev. David Ireland yesterday seeking more details in the church's application for an exemp tion from the Highlands Act.
"To complete the review, we need additional items of information," DEP spokeswoman Elaine Makatura explained.
In the meantime, Rockaway Township planning officials said scheduling conflicts with attorneys for the planning board, Christ Church and the church's traffic ex perts have pushed the next hearing to Sept. 11.
The 5,000-member Montclair church wants to build a complex on the former Agilent Technologies property on Green Pond Road. The complex would include a sanctuary for more than 2,500 people, a K-5 school and other facilities. The church's first hearing before the Rockaway Township Planning Board was held in December 2003.
The application has been dogged by significant resident opposi tion and legal issues. The church has filed a federal religious-discrimination lawsuit against Rockaway Township.
The church's application has faced hurdles on both the municipal and state levels.
In September 2004, after mak ing significant revisions to their initial plan, Christ Church became one of the first developments in the state to receive an exemption from the Highlands Act. The law limits development in a "core" watershed region that includes the site Christ Church wants to build on.
But Rockaway Township appealed the exemption, arguing the DEP's ruling provided no analysis or reason for determination. Last August, the state appellate court sent the matter back to the DEP for further fact-finding.
Yesterday's letter asked the church to detail how much of its proposed athletic fields would be an impervious surface. The state also says it believes some information updating the church's original application had not been provided to the Highlands Council and the Rockaway Township municipal clerk.
"I think they're looking to just make sure everything is accurate and complete," said David Stein berger, Christ Church's attorney for environmental matters. "We're going to get them all the information they're requesting."
In the meantime, the planning board meeting in September will give the public a chance to comment on the traffic light configura tions, said board chairman Mort Dicker. He said three possibilities have been offered by the church's experts:
Putting one traffic light at Green Pond and Meriden roads and another at the proposed building's Meriden Road exit.
Putting a light at what would be the Green Pond Road entrance.
Having no light installed and instead relying on a police officer, hired by the church, to direct traffic until the situation can be resolved.
The church's officials did not recommend any one plan over the other, said Dicker and church spokesman Marc Weinstein.
"They just laid out the scenarios, and it's up to the planning board, and of course the county, to approve whatever option it is," Weinstein said.
Paula Saha covers the Rockaways. She may be reached at psaha@starledger.com or (973) 539-7910.
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The truth wins out over slick PR and personal attacks.
The Christ Church Plan for the redevelopment of 140 Green Pond Rd is just too big for the area.
Site safety for water a concern; letters to DEP urged on church application By CLAUDETTE LEMERDY Contributing Writer 07/11/2006 Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly ROCKAWAY TWP. - Christ Church of Montclair may face a new challenge in building its 2,500 seat sanctuary, grade K-5 Christian School and gym facilities at 140 Green Pond Road, after some Township Council members suggested residents should write to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) expressing environmental concerns about the former Agilent site.
Councilwoman Barbara Grimaldi reported at the Tuesday, June 27, meeting some residents had expressed their concerns to her about possible water contamination at the former Agilent site, with regard to Christ Church's building project. "I'm passing along to you the concerns of the constituents because all of us drink that water," said Grimaldi." Mayor Louis Sceusi responded, "I would encourage any people who are concerned about water to write to the DEP and express their concerns. I have a letter in front of me from (Township Attorney Edward Buzak) requesting information how the DEP came up with their decision'' to grant the church an exemption from Highlands Act regulations. The mayor said the township made an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request to see that data. However, he said, "We've been denied access to that information." The township appealed the granting of the exemption and a state court sent the matter back to the DEP for further review indicating the agency had not provided backup documentation on how it reached the exemption decision. The DEP has not completed that second review. "Unfortunately, much of the site work there (former Agilent site) is under the purview of the DEP and I said unfortunately because I don't have a tremendous amount of confidence in the DEP - their actions in Split Rock and their actions at other areas of town don't lend a lot of confidence to me." The mayor added he would "encourage" anyone with similar concerns to write to the DEP commissioner about them. "I can say that we are doing our best to address every one of those issues," continued Sceusi. Steven Levinson, who is head of the township's health department as well as the township administrator, said the health department sent letters to the Planning Board, which is still reviewing the church application, and also to the DEP expressing concern about soils being disturbed that could have potential contaminants in them that could affect water quality. "I believe that the mayor has been very aggressive about it and the administration has been very aggressive about it," said Levinson who also indicated the soil removal at the former Agilent site is under the purview of the DEP. Sceusi, who is a voting member of the Planning Board, said, "We advised (Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris) about the newest testimony that came out with respect to the soil removal ... They are going to be removing 4,000 truckloads of soil and Councilman (Steven) Antonelli pointed out that's not including the debris from the demolition of the building....and all of that material has to be removed and I don't know, Steve, how much debris that would be but that would be thousands of trucks, perhaps," said Sceusi. Sceusi also said, "I think everyone is concerned about whether there is asbestos in the materials that they are moving, so there's a lot of issues and I plan to raise water retention (issue) at the next meeting. Then the mayor said he was asked by Bucco for a letter to take to the DEP expressing the township's concerns about the church's project. "Senator Bucco asked me to write a letter to him which he intends to bring to the DEP - he (Bucco) couldn't believe that number: 4,000 truckloads'' of soil, said Sceusi. Councilman Michael Dachisen responded to the mayor by saying, "The Planning Board can request to have an inspector go in and inspect to see if there is asbestos (in the material being removed), so we can request that from the Planning Board." The mayor agreed with Dachisen's suggestion by saying, "Yes, we can monitor the entire project." "For the demolition," said Dachisen, "So we can find out'' if there is asbestos. Then Sceusi said, "But again, anybody that can write (to the DEP), please...." Councilman William Schievella said as far as the mayor's suggestion about having people write to the DEP, "Maybe we can get a sample letter from the website of the town....I find it mind boggling that an agency that's supposed to protect our environment, we almost have to force them to look at it (soil movement issue) but if that's easier perhaps we should provide a letter for the residents that's easy for them to download, and they can send it in (to the DEP)." "Just for everyone's information, we did receive a thousand petitions regarding this particular site (Christ Church) on another issue with respect to the traffic light that's being proposed for the corner of Meriden and Green Pond Road, opposing that, and we've already sent them to the county, and we're giving them to the Planning Board, and also to Senator Bucco," said Sceusi. Contacted by phone, Bucco said he had met with Sceusi and Antonelli at a function unrelated to Christ Church and during that function Sceusi and Antonelli had expressed their concerns about the church's project. "We just happened to be discussing what was going on.... I said if he (Sceusi) had any concerns he could write to me so I would have it in writing and I would take it to the DEP....they had concerns with the project and if they thought the DEP should be involved, I would take that to the DEP," said Bucco. "They were concerned about the removal of debris from there, and soil removal and the trucks coming in and out of there and I told them, well, put it in writing and we would take a look at it," added Bucco. When contacted by phone, Christ Church spokesman Marc Weinstein said "The church's professional team is working closely with the township on the soil removal, as well as other aspects of the project....I believe they have been informed every step of the way about what the church is planning to do. Perhaps Senator Bucco should contact members of the church's professional team so he can get an informed response," continued Weinstein. "Unless he (Bucco) contacts members of the professional team, I don't believe he's getting the whole story - before he takes any action, he should speak with members of the professional team on this project to understand what is going on....however it is his prerogative to send anything to the DEP, but I think it would be wise for him to contact members of the professional team before he takes such action," continued Weinstein. Weinstein also said, "You have to understand the clean-up of the site is not under the purview of the church - that's between Hewlett Packard and the DEP because Hewlett Packard owned Agilent....there was an agreement that Hewlett Packard is responsible for any contaminants on the property....the church didn't create the contaminants in the ground or anywhere else....I think people are misinformed or being misinformed about this project," Weinstein added. "With regard to the traffic light signal; there was a meeting last week in which some type of traffic signal has to go at that location for public safety (Township Engineer) Lisa Ryden was there. They're going to hold another meeting to talk about this issue. Everybody in that room was in agreement that something needs to be done at that site. Even if the church wasn't there, it is a traffic hazard and if they don't put the traffic signal at Meriden and Green Pond (Road) or on Green Pond at the entrance to the church, the church will have a traffic officer there to direct traffic on Sundays. The church does not want a public traffic hazard at that site.'' Weinsting also said, "Regarding the beef about the traffic signal, that's being misdirected: that needs to be directed at the municipality - the county is requesting a traffic light there. The church is willing to concede to those demands, as you know in the past, (church officials) have bent over backwards (to comply with demands)," said Weinstein.
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The truth wins out over slick PR and personal attacks.
The Christ Church Plan for the redevelopment of 140 Green Pond Rd is just too big for the area.
As I have said many times in the past, the DEP has made political decisions not based on the best interests of the envoronment as it pertains to cc. The DEP will continue to do so in the future, as Mayor Sceusi seems to understand.
