FRANKLIN BOROUGHA routine Hearing to Add a Residential Developmentto the Borough’s Sewer System turned into a mess of decades of grievancesand new concerns about the environment, and the possibility that the borough might run out of water.
Although the property is located within the Sussex County Water Quality Management Area (SCWAM), Friday’s hearing is part of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s review before it grants final approval to the project.
The final step before development can proceed is approval by the DEP.
Milly’s Court is the issue. This 250-unit apartment complex will be built on eight acres of Munsonhurst Road. The project would allow sewage to flow into an existing sewer system.
The development, which includes affordable housing units has been the subject of several lawsuits. A state court judge ordered that it be approved. Among the lawsuits are those challenging the actions and members of the Planning Board and the Borough Council.
The issue stems from an agreement between the former owner and the borough to give the property a new deep well water system in return for the right to develop the property. A judge ruled that the agreement was binding, and JCM Investors, along with its subsidiary Silk City Rentals could proceed.
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Last week, opponents claimed that thegravel access road, built across what was once hayfields, orchards, to access the wells, has become something like a dike and turned the fields intowetlands. New species have moved into the wetlands, including wood turtles (bog turtles), and long-tailed saltamanders (long-tailed salamanders). All species are state-protected, with the exception of the bog turtle, which is on the federal endangered species list.
Dick Durina, a former mayor of the borough, was an opponent to the project. He said he is concerned about the future wells that will replace Franklin Pond as the borough’s water supply.
“Franklin people didn’t approve this project,” he stated. “A judge in Court did.”
Elliott Ruga, from the Highlands Coalition, stated that the project violates the Highlands Act and that there is a state report warning that the wells are pumping water more than can be replaced naturally.
Mark Gallagher challenged a report about the area’s geology written by an expert hired to review the project. Gallagher didn’t explain who he was, but he said that he was part Princeton Hydro, an opponent to the project.
Dawne Rose, who lives adjacent to the land, said that she would provide photos from 30 years ago showing the fields and orchards to DEP.
She said, “Please consider all of these issues for all people.” “This is a wrong project at the wrong moment.”
Julia Somers was the executive director of Highlands Coalition. She called into question expert reports from developers and bore holes of the property to determine the geology. She asked DEP to do additional research.
She said that there was a lack information in the rush for this site. “We don’t know what they are doing with the site, so we don’t know the impact on protected species.”
Emile Devito, an engineer associated with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, said that experts hired by the developer don’t expect people to read their reports and find their errors. “It’s all a smokescreen. They claim they are experts, but they are not experts.”
Developer Dauria was not present at the hearing. He stated that the project is moving along and that he has nothing to add.
Milly’s Court proposes112one-bedroom apartments, 120two-bedroom apartmentsand 28 three-bedroom apartments in 10 buildings in the pristine Wallkill Valley. The project would reserve 10% of the units.low-income housing. A clubhouse and pool are also available.
