History of the 2nd Watchung Mountain
Sitting atop the Second Watchung Mountain Ridge sits the largest remaining privately owned forest in West Orange and in the Watchung Mountain region. This 120-acre forest has been a priority for permanent preservation for decades. Master and open space plans for West Orange Township and Essex County have called for its preservation.
Today, the 120-acre forest is the proposed site for 496 apartments. There is no question that this site is inappropriate for development. Every way that you slice it, you come up against another reason the land should not be developed. From the wetlands, headwaters of the Canoe Brook to the distance from the town amenities, this site does not begin to meet the basic requirements set out by the Mount Laurel doctrine.
The Threat
The builder plans to construct 496 housing units in four buildings on this heavily wooded, hilltop site that straddles the Canoe Brook. In addition, he plans to cut down thousands of trees. If ever there was a site ripe for preservation, this hilltop forest is it. This site should never be built upon.
Housing on this site previously rejected
In 2006, the West Orange Planning Board decisively denied this same developer’s application to build 136 single-family homes on this site based on safety and environmental concerns, including WHAT? These same conditions continue to exist with the site today. So, why is the developer trying to develop this property again?
The Watchung Mountains are a group of three long low ridges of volcanic origin, between 400 and 500 feet (120 and 150 m) high, lying parallel to each other in northern New Jersey in the United States. The name is derived from the American Native Lenape name for them, Wach Unks (High Hills). In the 18th century, the Euro-American settlers also called them the Blue Mountains[Notes 1] or Blue Hills[Notes 2] (not to be confused with Blue Mountain in Sussex County).
The Watchung Mountains are known for their numerous scenic vistas overlooking the skylines of New York City and Newark, New Jersey, as well as their isolated ecosystems containing rare plants, endangered wildlife, rich minerals, and globally imperiled trap rock glade communities.[1][2] The ridges traditionally contained the westward spread of urbanization, forming a significant geologic barrier beyond the piedmont west of the Hudson River; the town of Newark, for example, once included lands from the Hudson to the base of the mountains. Later treaties moved the boundary to the top of the mountain, to include the springs.
The Watchungs are basalt uplifts, geologically similar to the Palisades along the Hudson River. In many places, however, the mountains have become sinuous islands of natural landscape within the suburban sprawl covering much of contemporary northeastern New Jersey. Parks, preserves, and numerous historical sites dot the valleys and slopes of the mountains, providing recreational and cultural activities to one of the most densely populated regions of the nation. Source Wikipedia
Using Affordable housing to justify development
West Orange and the developer are using the state’s affordable housing requirements to justify the new proposal for the construction of the massive housing development. They are shamelessly pitting the need for affordable housing against the need to preserve environmentally sensitive land. As a result of a court-approved settlement between West Orange and the developer, of the 496 units proposed in the developer’s application, 100 are slated for affordable housing.
WeCareNJ recognizes the legitimate need for affordable housing and supports the municipality’s effort to meet its obligation. WeCareNJ also supports locating those units in an area of West Orange where the residents will be safe and have ready access to public transportation, schools, libraries, houses of worship, medical facilities, food, other essential shopping, and even sidewalks.
In short, it is the “poster child” of where and how NOT to site affordable housing.
Harms expected from the proposed development
- Thousands of trees are slated for removal, which will fragment any remaining forest into two separate smaller areas
- Two headwater tributary streams of the Canoe Brook would be disturbed,d leading to increased erosion and downstream flooding
- Already existing severe downstream flooding would be exacerbated.
- The project would severely fragment one of the last remaining core forests in the Watchung Region.
- Access to the site is heavily restricted due to a limited one-way in and out of the road, essentially creating a new cul–de–sac for the development.
- Already congested roadways in West Orange and surrounding municipalities will experience an increase in traffic by an estimated additional 1200 cars.
- Proposed mitigation for the loss of trees is a deer fence exclosure around 30 acres of remaining forest, pushing deer into neighboring communities and roads, further threatening public safety.
- Increased threats to public safety from rock slides and land sinking as occurred with the recent building collapse on the First Ridge at Northfield Ave after Hurricane Ida.
Application not in compliance with state requirements
A recent report from Princeton Hydro, one of the state’s most respected environmental expert firms, made the following statement regarding the proposed project design:
"In conclusion, our detailed review has found that the application is not in compliance with applicable State stormwater requirements. It is my professional opinion that the application does not meet all three central performance requirements of the State stormwater requirements. Since the project has not demonstrated compliance with all three specific stormwater management requirements of the central goals of stormwater management planning as outlined in NJAC 7:8, in my professional opinion, the application is non-approvable as designed. If the application is approved as designed, the development will increase the frequency and severity of damage expected during a flood in the adjacent and downstream areas."
Princeton Hydro letter dated November 15, 2024
IN SHORT, THIS FOREST, WITH STEEP SLOPES, WETLANDS, HEADWATERS, AND TRIBUTARIES, IS NOT SUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT MUST BE REJECTED.
ALL EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO PRESERVE THIS LAND PERMANENTLY.
The Opportunity | An interconnected Watchung Mountain Greenway
Past citizens and elected officials have preserved significant areas of the Watchung Mountain ridges over many years, including the Eagle Rock Reservation, South Mountain Reservation, the Watchung Reservation, and many others. West Orange must now take the opportunity to advance those preservation initiatives by preserving the 120-acre forest and creating a system of interconnected Greenways. An interconnected system of greenways throughout the region will help to ensure a high quality of life for its residents and the surrounding communities.
Why is preservation of this forest important?
Preserving this last large core forest will help solidify the creation of an interconnected greenway, linking together existing open spaces and catalyzing the preservation of additional lands.
Benefits include:
- Reduced flooding and stormwater runoff
- Preserved, protected and clean drinking water supplies
- Increased open space and natural habitat in an area with little public open space
- Carbon sequestration
- Improved air quality
- Protected wildlife habitat and biodiversity
- Increased outdoor recreation opportunities and scenic beauty
- Support to human health, healing, community connections, and quality of life
- Increased resilience from climate change impacts
WHAT CAN WE DO?
JOIN We Care Open Space Preservation to:
- DONATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT
- ATTEND PLANNING BOARD MEETINGS AND ADVOCATE FOR FULL PRESERVATION OF THE FOREST AND URGE WEST ORANGE OFFICIALS TO LOCATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN APPROPRIATE SITES
- BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
- MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
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