Cranford Talks Flooding, Birchwood Ave. Concerns

What began as a meeting intended to address concerns over the Birchwood Avenue development, turned into an evaluation of flooding issues after Hurricane Irene and Cranford's post-storm cleanup effort.

Eric Mason, police chief and acting township administrator, said the township has been at work six days a week cleaning up what Irene left behind.

“This has been a challenge, to say the least,” he said, estimating that about 70,000 tons of debris will be removed as a result of this storm.

The town will be contracting private sectors to help in the clean-up and 75 percent of the costs will be covered by FEMA, according to town officials.

Despite preparing for the storm, town officials said the hurricane and flood were of massive proportions. Hurricane Irene brought triple the amount of debris that Hurricane Floyd did in 1999, township engineer Rick Marsden said.

“We started monitoring this storm a week before it started,” Marsden said. No dikes failed and no dams broke, but there was an estimated 8-10 inches of rain. "Our storms get into us, do their damage and get out in a hurry."

The town plans to start moving debris out of the conservation center on Thursday. Mayor Daniel Aschenbach said a “broom patrol” will be meeting then to help sweep debris out of the streets. In the meantime, he urges residents to be careful where they step.

In addition to covering cleanup costs, Aschenbach said FEMA mitigation also promises to: fund dike armoring and heightening along Riverside Drive, build a dike on Bluff Street, expand the Lenape Park capacity and create a pumping station and express sewer by Willow Street, in an effort to help prevent damage from future storms.

The township approved dredging of a bend at McConnell Park and funding for the silt removal at the footbridge.

To help with flood relief, Cranford High also plans to hold a Rising Above: A Musical Celebration of Hope concert from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium. Tickets are $20 in advanced and $25 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Cranford Family Cares Relief Fund.

After addressing the storm, the town moved on to talk about the development, which the township and hundreds of residents oppose because it places 360 low-income units and 800 parking units in a flood-prone area.

Mayor Aschenback calls it an “irrational proposal."

Instead of housing, the township committee has proposed to turn the area into a storm water detention basin that will slow the flow of water to the Rahway River and will also reduce water flow to the Birchwood brook. It would also reduce flooding and stop development from increasing drainage issues.

As the township works to fight this project, Aschenbach urges all citizens to sign petitions, write letters and make their voices heard.

Standing outside the auditorium were Andis Kalnins and Lisa Adubato Nesi, running mates for the Cranford Township Committee this upcoming Nov. “We’re petitioning the legislation to change the laws in New Jersey,” explains Kalnins. The law change will allow towns to have a larger say in what happens in terms of affordable housing and will take environmental factors, schools and community service into account when planning.

Kalnins and Adubato Nesi began a petition objecting to builder's remedy lawsuits.

In the simplest terms, a builder’s remedy lawsuit is legal action taken by a property owner in order to try and force a municipality to allow the construction of a large, multi-unit apartment building or complex. Such is the case in Cranford. The S. Hekemian Group of Paramus bought the property in October 2008 and proposed 356 market rate units and 63 units of low- and moderate-income housing. It then filed a suit in New Jersey Superior Court claiming that Cranford is in violation of its constitutional duty to create sufficient opportunity for the construction of low- and moderate-income housing.

More than a year ago, a special master was appointed to study the case and reported to a judge that the project should go forward due to the town's obligation to provide affordable housing.

But Cranford officials object because Birchwood Avenue is a flood-prone area and at risk of overdevelopment.

Another petition created by Mayor Aschenbach says, "Birchwood is in a flood zone and the neighborhood school is at overcapacity. Flooding of neighboring streets is a serious problem. Cranford has had a sound record on affordable housing. This overdevelopment plan will create more problems."

Adubato Nesi hopes legislation will end “the arbitrary assigning of numbers. She said Cranford does not need to establish 360 units at the Birchwood area in order to meet the affordable housing standards.