Hi. My first blog, and it took a real threat to move me to do this. If you don't yet know it, the township of West Orange, New Jersey is weakening a tree ordinance that will allow the removal of 27,000 trees to make way for a housing development of 129 single family homes. The trees sit in the wetlands and streamed area behind the West Essex Highlands (off Eagle Rock Avenue) and adjacent to the towns of Essex Fells and Verona.
There are other issues inherent in this project to be considered such as water run off, likelihood of increased taxes, pollution and traffic all of which pose a threat and/or inconvenience to the people living not only near the proposed project, but any where in town.
But do we have to look further than the trees to see the forest? I don't think so. Trees, nature, wildlife often define a town, making it appealing, livable, desirable, even healthy. Imagine New York City without Central Park and you get the idea. (and the trees currently proposed for destruction are 1,000 more than in the entirety of Central Park!)
The developer for this project has proposed several approaches to building of varying size and scope over the last several years, and up till now has been held at bay because of the concerns about traffic and safety issues.
The movement to stop this project definitely needs to expand beyond the We Care committee, the Sierra Club and the people living in the West Essex Highlands and adjacent towns. The effects of weak environmental ordinances and over-development are far reaching.
There's a planning board meeting on Wednesday, March 12, at 7:30 where some of these issues will be addressed.
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21 comments:
I too am extremely concerned about the propesct of losing 27,000 tress in the West Essex Highlands an deven more when building on the Crestmont Country Club is considered.
I am not a scientist, but do know that tress act as a buffer against wind in the winter,and provide shade and cool air inthe summer. West Orange started an "energy Diet" last year in an attemt to cut energy bills throughout the town. Whatever positive effect this has had on the environment will be negated by the wholesale removal of trees.
Please joiin Samba and I in fighting this cause. The tree ordinance will be discussed at the Town Council Meeting on Teusday evening, March 18th at 6:30p.m. at Town Hall on Main Street.
Hope to see you there.
5grandkids
Trees are definitely an issue, but from the Planning Board meeting last night,March 12, I am left feeling like traffic accidents and congestion may tie for importance.
Unlike trees, traffic moves and traffic kills.
In an October 10, 2007 memorandum from Lt. Robert Williams of the West Orange Police Traffic Bureau and Safety Division to the Planning Board secretary,
Lt. Williams raised many other concerns about the new development. These concerns included exacerbation of the already bad traffic congestion in the area,the special problem of limited sight lines at Oval Road and the complaints already submitted to the police about speeding on Oval Road and connecting streets.
I'm neither a scientist nor a police officer, but this project sounds like it's going to be bad on the lungs and hard on the nerves for any one living in and/or traveling through this area.
As a new resident to West Orange I was excited to learn on the town’s website how important its scenic beauty is to the town government. In “my home” video, the town prides itself with saying that
much of the town’s acreage is in a lush, undeveloped state.
That is exactly what attracted my family to move to West Orange.
We do have 120 acres of beautiful, natural, lush, undeveloped land with many plant, wildlife and animal species. A woodland with over 27,000 trees which provide all residents of West Orange with good breathable air filled with oxygen vitally important to humans well being. Trees are essential to absorb carbon dioxide; reducing its level in the atmosphere, aiding in the reduction of acid rain and the level of ozone and most importantly the slowing of global warming.
To allow a developer to cut down 27,000 trees, to destroy the wetlands, to obliterate the wildlife and to forever change the natural and scenic beauty of our town is deplorable!!
The increase of CO2, and its consequences, the raise of soil erosion and water runoff, the destruction of the habitat for many species of plants and animals, the increased traffic congestion and the general disruption of our community’s lives are only some of the components which will result from yet another environmentally irresponsible overdevelopment.
We all will be affected. We all should unite in our effort and urge our town government to protect the already fragile environment, which the health of our livable community so vitally depends on.
We all should attend the town’s planning board meetings and show our support for a common cause!! Demonstrate your desire to live in a community which prides itself with a commitment to our children and to all future generations of this earth in preserving its natural environment and its vast wildlife population.
The next planning board meeting is on April 23rd at 7:30 p.m
Isn't it ironic that many of us who chose West Orange and this community for the open, treed space and now are going to be neighbors-----if this project succeeds-----to homes built on lots that only have 12 feet of depth in their back yards? Many of these lots encroach on steep slopes and wet lands and their back yards are going to be restricted to 12 feet in depth!
I grew up in Jersey and moved out West for the open space. I remember the joke that seems to follow the Jersey stigma like a thorn its side: How did the Marine from NJ remember home? He asked his fellow Marines to fart in a jar and leave it by his bed.
I find it sad that NJ developers don't care much for this stigma. How many trees are left to be cut down in Jersey? Will NJ officials and developers be proud to be the state known for having every possible acre covered in a housing development or being the state with the least amount of trees?!!
People may scoff at a few comments by concerned citizens, but seriously, THIS IS A TIME IN NJ HISTORY FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS (including politicians and developers) TO TAKE ACTION AND GIVE THE GARDEN STATE A FEELING OF BEING A GARDEN AGAIN!
And it's not just the trees themselves. The acreage is home to wild turkeys, deer, fox, rabbits and all kinds of wildlife. Where will they go when there is no place to call home?
Isn't it nice to continue to enjoy what doesn't belong to you and not have to pay one cent to the owners. Why don't you tree-huggers take up a collection to buy the property and leave if forever barren. That will help property values and those that don't have property, or a decent place to live, can still enjoy those trees.
Actually, there have been efforts to buy the land, but as long as developers find assistance to put up projects like this, their requests for purchase price are not in line with the market value of the property.
Samba said:
"as long as developers find assistance to put up projects like this"
Exactly what assistance are you talking about?
"Comment moderation has been enabled. All comments must be approved by the blog author."
Are we now going to enjoy the benefits of censorship?
I hope to treat my blog as I treat my house, asking guests not to drag in mud and to take notice and care with other guests. No profanity, no personal attacks, please. Come with a purpose and leave in a timely manner. If any one is not happy with the "house rules", then they can kindly start their own blog.
Thanks for the intelligent discussion regarding the proposal for development in the West Essex Highlands and the Tree Ordinance that does not exist in West Orange right now!
It is time for us to stop over development and keep West Orange as a community for people and environment, not just houses on top of each other with traffic and congestion everywhere!
See you at the next Town Council meeting on April 23rd! Tell the council we don't want this project built in West Orange and we want our trees to stay where they belong!!
RSY
And if your schedule does not allow you to attend council meetings or planning board meetings, send a letter or a quick email. The website for the West Orange Municipality allows you to comment at the site. Just go to:
http://www.westorange.org/
and click on "contact".
On March 18th anonymous asked for an explanation of exactly what assistance developers receive. Did I miss the explanation?
Maybe in another few years when the solons finally figure out how to word a "tree ordinance" they can get around to protecting wild turkeys. Meanwhile, I will look for a recipe for that all American dish, squirrel pie.
Bastiat
No, Bastiat, you did not miss the explanation. It is far too complex and long to post at this time. But stay tuned. I appreciate your sense of satire and hope you will visit again.
Have you ever asked yourself WHY West Orange has no tree ordinance?
Creating the language would seem like the least of it, would it not?
You sound like quite a clever person,however, so I am sure you can add 2 and 2.
I hear there is a tree ordinance the "making" and that, too, will get some attention when it happens.
Sound familiar?
"When government does, occasionally, work, it works in an elitist fashion. That is, government is most easily manipulated by people who have money and power already. This is why government benefits usually go to people who don't need benefits from government. Government may make some environmental improvements, but these will be improvements for rich bird-watchers. And no one in government will remember that when poor people go bird-watching they do it at Kentucky Fried Chicken." -- P.J. O'Rourke
Bastiat
Bastiat, though I can't refute the core of your comment, let's also realize in all seriousness that birding is a non-discriminatory activity. All you need is your eyes, no accessories, and even the sight impaired can still have the joy of hearing bird song.
Despite my disagreement, I enjoy your wit. Please return and bring it with you.
Well, well, Bastiat,
So you believe that Government benefits the people who do not need benefits from government….
“The rich bird watching people.?????”
And what are your altruistic motives, Bastiat??
To irresponsibly build houses on land desperately needed to provide generations of people on this earth with clean breathable air???
To build huge houses with hardly any land to enjoy ???? And who do you say will be able to afford your houses???? The Mac-mansions??
The poor people ????
Let’s be honest, here. Nobody tries to deny you to own a land. But don’t you think that even as a land-owner , when you are a part of society you live in, you ought to act responsibly to your neighbors????
No need to get greedy … Are you better than the government you are accusing of tending to the rich???
Thanks for your post Dana. But I believe Bastiat is quoting P.J. O'Rourke and is not necessarily challenging the actions taken to stop the building of this project. I think you and I have a very different interpretation of Bastiat's view point. You are seeing the poster as pro-development and I am seeing the poster as anti-government. Perhaps Bastiat is neither and is acting as a cyber-gadfly. Bastiat, would you like to clarify? No one says you must, but futher comments would be edifying, and, no doubt, interesting.
The West Essex Highlands COmmunity and its Board need to be aware of how the community feels about the development and work on our behalf to see to it that it does not happen!
The following meetings are imperative for all of us to attend:
April 22, Tuesday 7:30pm - Highlands Board meeting
April 23, Wednesday 7:30 pm - West Orange Town Council Meeting
May 6th & 9th - WO Town Council meetings to discuss the Tree Ordinance!!
The West Essex Highlands will be greatly impacted by the development of the land adjacent to our condos. The most recent developments in West Orange indicate that we may have no tree ordinance at all, while this developer moves forward with the plans. We must try to get out and show the Town Council of West Orange that we do need to get something effective in place now.
Please come to any and all meetings that you possibly can, a show of numbers is very important!
Rita
Thanks Rita. Just wanted to note that the meeting at the Highlands is for residents only. Also, the town council meeting is on the 6th of May.
Thanks for the corrections.
Just to be clear, the Town Council meetings to discuss the tree ordinance are on:
April 29th and May 6th.
The regular council meeting is on April 23rd.
If you cannot attend, then email the West Orange website:
http://www.westorange.org/
and click on "contact".
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