Jul 29 2009
NJ Herald - Letter to the Editor PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
On June 17, 2009, the Sparta Township Planning Board continued a Hearing to consider whether the farmland adjacent to Lake Grinnell should be re-zoned from residential to industrial. Although many of the neighbors have been present at the Hearings, this issue should concern all of the residents of Sparta who care about preserving the quality of life in our Township.
The Planning Board has been so busy watching Grinnell’s parade of experts testifying about whether a quarry CAN be built, that the Planning Board has ignored the question of whether it SHOULD be built. Grinnell’s hired guns would have us all believing that we will barely notice the 150 acre quarry and that it will have no effect on our quality of living along Houses Corner Road and on one of the quietest, most tranquil, lakes in the area. To illustrate the harm, one needed only to hear Grinnell’s sound engineer testify. Originally, Grinnell’s plan called for a state-of-the-art conveyor belt to reduce dust and noise and to eliminate 600 truck trips (Grinnell’s estimate) per week. Now the application does not have a conveyor belt. Similarly, Grinnell’s proposal is to quarry every inch of the parcel to the maximum depth allowed leaving only 200’ buffers. Grinnell’s own sound expert testified that some of the sound from the equipment will carry far more than 200’. In fact, Grinnell’s own sound expert was forced to admit that trucks leaving the proposed sight would emit noise far in excess of the Township’s sound ordinance at the nearest property line.
 
Residents of Sparta should be concerned as to why this application continues to move forward without asking whether an industrial operation should be inserted into a long standing residential zone. Originally, Grinnell stated that it needed the sand and other materials for its factory. Township officials were concerned with losing a long standing business in town. However, this “need” must be examined more carefully. It is now clear that the vast majority of the material quarried at this site will be transported away from the site on residential roads and sold to customers. One has to wonder whether the goal is to provide the factory with materials or simply to make money by creating a new business.
 
Remember, Grinnell just recently received permission for a new recycling business, which has already been the subject of significant DEP investigations and violations.
 
Also, consider the fact that the 150 acre lot in question was purchased for just over $2 million. Grinnell’s idea of being neighborly was to turn around and offer it to Sparta Township for $5 million. If the Planning Board approves the re-zoning, the value of the lot would soar to $8 or $10 million.
 
The Sparta Township Planning Board has done a good job so far, but I suggest that more of Sparta Township’s residents come and observe the proceeding to ensure that the integrity of the zoning in Sparta Township is protected rather than simply create an enormous financial windfall for a politically connected and favored son.
 
-Sunday, July 12th, 2009
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 July 2009 )
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]
Joomla template by DesignForJoomla.com
DesignForJoomla.com provides free Joomla templates, free and commercial Joomla extensions, Joomla tutorials and SEO tips for the Joomla CMS