Politics & Government

Update: Cranford's Fight Against the Birchwood Project

A summary of the recent actions that have been taken regarding the proposed residential development on Birchwood Avenue.

The digging that was taking place at the site of a proposed development on has ceased, but residents continue to worry and wonder about the fate of the project, which was a major issue during the and continues to be an important topic for many residents who live in the area.

The following is an update on the Birchwood Avenue site and the actions that have been taken recently by the developer - the S. Hekemian Group - as well as the township and residents who oppose the construction of on the flood-prone property.

  • No permits have been issued for the Birchwood site. "In the past few weeks there were a number of things that I saw…regarding a major issue that many people are stressing over," Mayor Dan Aschenbach said at a meeting earlier this week regarding residents' concerns about the Birchwood Avenue property, and confusion over whether or not permits had been issued for that site. "There has never been a building permit approved for Birchwood. It hasn't happened. It's not anywhere near that point." The mayor said it's understandable that people were confused after seeing  construction equipment moving piles of dirt on the property.
  • The NJ Department of Environmental Protection "has not made any decision on permits that would allow this development to go forward," Aschenbach said. "The only way we are going to be able to fight this…is that everyone has to stay on the same page."
  • A temporary restraining order was requested by the township to prevent the property owners from working at the site, according to Township Attorney Daniel McCarthy. The request was denied, but the property owners told the court they would not work on the site until they obtained all of their permits, including one from the town, which they have applied for, McCarthy added. "I have been down at the site every day and not a piece of that heavy equipment has moved an inch," the attorney said, referring to the equipment that residents and officials observed digging large, swimming pool-sized holes on the property a few weeks ago.
  • A complaint with the NJ DEP's Solid Waste Enforcement Bureau has been filed, McCarthy said. In turn, the bureau issued a notice of violation to the owners. McCarthy said the town is trying to get "other branches of the DEP" involved as well.
  • The developer has managed to obtain a Soil Conservation District permit, but their permit with the DEP was still incomplete as of earlier this week, the township attorney said.
  • Officials are continuing to urge residents said to contact the NJDEP, the governor's office and local legislators to voice their opposition to the project.
  • The mayor has met with the DEP commissioner, who assured him that "there would be no permits issued."
  • There has been talk about organizing a citizens committee that would have acces to township resources. There is already a mailing list of about 85 people who are ready and willing to organize a fight against the development, but they say they still need support from Township Committee. The township attorney suggested that the residents meet with the newly-elected members of the Township Committee - - to discuss their concerns and continue to interact with them once they take office in January. Both Aschenbach and the candidates have circulated in recent months related to the Birchwood case and efforts to prevent construction on the property.
  • A special meeting is scheduled for Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Room 108 of with members of the Army Corps of Engineers. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the integrity of the levee system in the sections of the Rahway River that run through the township as well as a discussion of the Lenape Basin and possible options for flood mitigation. Formal, contractual action may take place at the meeting, which is open to the public.

For updates on the township's efforts to fight the Birchwood Avenue development, "like" Cranford Patch on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CranfordPatch or follow @CranfordPatch on Twitter.

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