The development saga atop New Jersey's Watchung Mountains rages on, as billionaire real estate mogul and Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf faces pushback from local residents. The Wilf-led Garden Homes aims to transform a 120-acre, untouched section of the mountain into a 496-unit residential enclave, with about 100 units set aside as affordable housing. Despite the green lights received, locals term the proposal as 'dangerous,' as reported in a Daily Mail piece.
According to the Gothamist, hundreds of West Orange residents fear that Wilf's project will exacerbate existing flooding issues. An engineering firm, retained by the opposition, argues that Garden Homes' stormwater management plan is flawed and could increase runoff. Caryn Shinske, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), confirmed the department's ongoing review of the stormwater permit suspension request, yet there is not a hard deadline for the decision.
The environmental consultancy Princeton Hydro, hired by the grassroots group We Care NJ, determined that Garden Homes' stormwater plans might not be sufficient for managing runoff, potentially putting local properties at risk. "It has to meet the rules," said Clay Emerson, Princeton Hydro's senior technical director, highlighting the clash between the state's development ambitions and its environmental and community welfare responsibilities. Joe Pannullo, president of We Care NJ, slammed the developer's plan, asserting to the Gothamist, "The data that were used to support the application were not accurate. So the conclusion drawn by issuing the permit cannot be correct."
Residents' worries stem from prior flooding incidents, with one local homeowner, Jennifer Sharret, recounting how a heavy rainstorm had turned her backyard into a river. These concerns are echoed by Joe Krakoviak, West Orange Town Council President, speaking to Daily Mail, by highlighting the complexities of the mountain's terrain and its implications for drainage. Krakoviak also emphasized the challenge of balancing environmental concerns with affordable housing requirements.
The opposition groups Our Green West Orange and We Care NJ also worry about the project's location, far from public transportation and essential services, which they argued to the Daily Mail. Rachel Klein, associated with WeCare NJ, suggested that incorporating affordable housing into a project doesn't inherently solve safety issues related to the site's geography and history of environmental concerns.
As the Wilf proposal makes its way through further hearings and reviews, the tension between the imperative for affordable housing and the maintenance of environmental integrity continues to draw sharp lines across the West Orange community.
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