Save Paramus Wetlands

Just wanted to take the time to provide "the fastest game in town" and all visitors to the Paramus Post with some updates:

We have been conducting extensive research ever since learning of a proposal to build an oversized, high-density project on a piece of environmentally sensitive land off of Soldier Hill Road in Paramus. We are strongly opposed to “Enchantment at Paramus” (or any development on the section of land known as block #7706, lot #1), as are many others, and have been working hard to save this property and protect it for future generations.
Several articles have appeared in The Record and local papers pertaining to open space, wetlands, sprawl, and potential developments. An editorial, “Dirty drinking”, appeared on page L-6 of Monday’s Record (February 19, 2007). It mentioned “quality of state’s water supply getting worse”, and went on to describe pollution. “It comes from storm water and wastewater runoff… It comes from the loss of wetlands and open space and the endless increase in development and sprawl”. It went on to state that “environmentalists warn repeatedly that North Jersey’s love of development is hurting our water supply. They warn that sprawl- with its landscaping and parking lots and traffic congestion- is increasing the contaminated runoff that ends up in our streams and brooks”.

The Borough of Paramus has filed a lawsuit against the property owner (Shamrock Creek, LLC) and the potential developer (JDME Acquisitions / Robertson Douglas Group) as it was the intent to preserve this land and prohibit further building in this area.. It has been mentioned that “under the direction of Mayor Tedesco, the Paramus town council has initiated legal action to stop any development forever on Soldier Hill Road. The protection of wetlands, pristine property, and open space is the highest priority of this administration”.

In addition to the many legal and zoning concerns, there are several environmental issues. The developer/applicant notes in their application dated June 13, 2006 that “the site to be developed is located in an environmentally critical area as delineated in the Borough’s 1975 Natural Resource Inventory and any amendments thereto”. They go on to say that “the site to be developed is located in the 100 Year Flood Plain as delineated on either FEMA maps or NJ DEP flood maps. The site development would require the removal of trees of six inches or greater in true diameter, would introduce change in the quality and/or quantity of present storm-water runoff, would require the import or removal of soil from the area, would require directing surface drainage into a watercourse, would impact Borough services, increase local traffic, and excavation required for the development would penetrate the high water table in existence at the site”. In addition, several waivers are requested and many variances and approvals would be required. These are all major concerns that would have a direct impact on us, our neighbors, and residents of Paramus, Bergen County, and the State of New Jersey as a whole.

This 35+ acre parcel, located on the Paramus / Oradell / Emerson border, is surrounded by single family homes, a nature trail, municipal land, Reid Park, and a cemetery. It consists of wetlands, forested/wooded areas, wildlife, and streams/tributaries. Members from the Bergen Swan recently visited the area and prepared maps which they will be forwarding to the DEP. These not only show that this parcel of land sits in a NJDEP stormwater rule area affected by 300 foot buffers but visually depicts the 300 foot C-1 buffer protection. The NJ DEP website goes on to list many category one bodies of water including “Hackensack River (Oradell) - New York/New Jersey State line to Oradell dam, including Lake Tappan and all tributaries draining to the Hackensack River above Oradell dam” and “Oradell Reservoir (Oradell)-all named and unnamed tributaries that are not listed separately, that drain into Oradell Reservoir above the Oradell dam”. Briefly defined; category one protection targets water bodies that provide drinking water, habitat for endangered and threatened species, and popular recreational and/or commercial species. Category One designation provides additional protections to water bodies that help prevent water quality degradation and discourage development where it would impair or destroy natural resources and environmental quality. The presence of Soldier Hill Brook, Highland Brook, and other category one tributaries, has been mentioned in a number of reports. The bodies of water, present on or near this site, feed the Musquapsink Brook (C1) and are part of the Hackensack River Watershed and Pascack Brook Sub-Watershed. They lead to the Oradell Reservoir which in turn is part of a system that supplies over 750,000 people with their drinking supply. Watershed Management Area #5 also mailed an informative letter dated October 10, 2006, pertaining to this proposed project, their concerns, and their opposition.

We believe that protecting environmentally sensitive pieces of land and preserving open space are important issues. The NJ DEP Smart Growth site mentions that “New Jersey is the nation’s most densely populated state, and most developed”. Projects such as these add to this problem and create others. Smart Growth goes on to state that “ill-conceived land use” has the potential of “threatening our drinking-water supplies, devouring open space, spoiling our landscape, and creating additional traffic congestion that in turn pollutes our air”. Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney has been quoted as saying “while 96 percent of land in the county has already been developed, it is my hope to continue to preserve the remaining 4 percent for historic preservation, parks, and farms”. He has also made mention of “protecting Bergen’s natural beauty” and “preserving our open space”. It was further stated that as County Executive, he has been “fighting overdevelopment by making a major commitment to preserving open space… doubled the open space trust fund and preserved 1,000 acres of land that can never be developed”.

Seniors from Paramus High School, with the support of the Paramus Environmental Commission, have started to film a documentary pertaining to the importance of this land, the environment, and preserving open space. The Commission has stated that they would like to assist in educating the public, disseminating information, and establishing an open space fund. Other students have stated that they would prepare a report on Paramus wetlands and clean the areas near their homes. A group of fifth graders from West Brook was so concerned about the wetlands and wildlife that they completed a letter/petition requesting that it be saved. The Borough of Oradell has passed a resolution against building on this land, and others are considering doing the same. Groups such the Hackensack Riverkeeper, the Sierra Club, Environment New Jersey, Bergen Swan, and the Conservation Foundation are also monitoring this application and lawsuit, as it would have an affect on Paramus, Emerson, Oradell, the surrounding communities, Bergen County, and the State of New Jersey.

We are hoping that the court reaffirms that this is not buildable land. No further building should be allowed as the negatives outweigh the “benefits”. Local, county, and state agencies, including the zoning board and NJ DEP, should take a close look and not approve variances or issue permits. This project should not proceed and the proper steps should be taken to ensure that this land be protected for our children and our children’s children. We feel strongly that we should all work together to protect this property (as it was initially intended) from this, or future development, and ensure that it is preserved as open space.

Please continue to check www.saveparamuswetlands.com and stay involved. As always, any and all help is greatly appreciated. Mark Distler & Ed Onorato