At this meeting it was proposed that a letter writing campaign may be the best bet to stop this development. To voice your concerns please contact our elected officials by May 1st:
Legislators from District 39 for Oakland:
Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi: aswschepisi@njleg.org
Assemblyman Bob Auth: asmauth@njleg.org
Senator Cardinale: sencardinale@njleg.org.
Legislators from District 40 for Wayne:
Sen Kevin O’Toole: senotoole@njleg.org.
Assemblyman: Dave Russo: asmrusso@njleg.org
Assemblyman: Scott Rumana:asmrumana@njleg.org
Written comments to the DEP regarding this settlement must be addressed to Becky Mazzei, Environmental Specialist 2, Division of Land Use Regulation, P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 501-02A, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420, or submitted by email to Becky.Mazzei@dep.state.nj.us. Comments must be received within thirty (30) days of publication, which is by May 1, 2014.
A meeting with Oakland Mayor, Linda Schwager will be held on Wednesday, April 23 AT 5:30 PM (in Council Chambers) to discuss what, if anything can be done regarding the settlement between Bi-County and the Department of Environmental Protection Agency which would allow the development of the Bi-County property off Long Hill Rd. with approximately 200 residential units, including affordable housing.
Contact information for the DEP:
Comments regarding the Bi-County Settlement Agreement are due by May 1, 2014. They need to be addressed to: Becky Mazzei, Environmental Specialist 2, Division of Land Use Regulation, P.O.Box 420, Mail Code 501-02A, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420, or sent by email to: Becky.Mazzei@dep.state.nj.us
Click here to email Legislative representatives State Senator Gerald Cardinale, Assemblyman Robert Auth and Assemblywoman Holly T. Schepisi
If anyone has any further information, please either post it in the comment section or email: editors@theoaklandjournal.com
I have heard about this project generally speaking for years now but I’m still a bit lost as to what they want it to look like and what kind of potential residents the builders are aiming to sell these units too. Can someone fill me in?
Here we go again…. Fall 2000 The Sierra Club of NJ rated Oakland’s Ramapo Reserve with a “Thumbs Down”. Stand by for another.
http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/50statesurvey/newjersey.asp#thumbsdown
Sierra Club Fall 2000 “Sprawl Report”
Ramapo Reserve
(Oakland)
Trophy Houses Move Mountain
The Ramapo Mountains used to be known for hiking trails, trout-filled streams and pre-Columbian archaeological sites. Now the mountains are marred by 400 townhouses on 300 acres of blasted ledges.
Ramapo Reserve, as the project is known, should never have happened. The area in question had been on New Jersey’s Green Acres acquisition list since before the development took place. After a bruising court battle, local public officials allowed the development to go forward, arguing that the court decision made this necessary. But the real motivation was likely extra tax revenue.
This project exemplifies all the problems of sprawling growth. First, by placing homes on pads blasted into the mountain, the builder practically guaranteed that possibly polluted runoff would pour off the steep slopes into a river that serves as a water supply. Second, the development’s “pioneering” status as the first building site west of the Ramapo River violated existing natural boundaries and will place incredible pressure on the natural resources in the area. Third, only the wealthy will have access to these homes. At prices from the mid-$200,000 range to over $2.5 million, “Ramapo Reserve” can in no way be considered affordable. And finally, because of the isolated location and lack of public transportation, the development will force residents into their cars for even the most limited errands.
In exchange for a few luxury homes in an isolated and car-dependent community, the developers destroyed greenways, turned trout streams into steel pipes, carved away parts of the Ramapo Mountains and caused other severe environmental damage.