Letter: United Water Development, A bad Idea in so Many Ways
Mike Kirk of Oradell explains why he feels the Hekemian project is a bad idea not only for New Milford, but Oradell as well.
The proposed development of a three-acre United Water property located in north New Milford is bad for surrounding communities on many levels.
First, and most obviously, the parcel of land has historically flooded. The developers - S.Hekemian Group and Inserra ShopRite - have plans to divert that water; but where will it go? Obviously into someone else’s property; the Hackensack River cannot absorb flood waters and overflows into surrounding neighborhoods with regularity. Should we believe that “this time it will be different’? No.
More likely is if it is different it will be because houses that previously did not flood will now be prone to flooding. The four to six feet of water that previously flooded the 13-acre United Water property will now flood a wider area both upstream and down steam of the work site. Upstream may sound surprising, but consider the bottleneck that will result from the proposed diversion, that will likely raise water levels upstream flooding areas in Oradell near St. Joseph’s far beyond historical patterns. Residents downstream in New Milford, River Edge, North Hackensack and beyond who once considered themselves “high and dry” should be reconsidering that assumption should this project pass.
Second, the roads in the proposed area (River Rd., Elm St., Main St., New Milford Ave., and even Kinderkamack Rd.) are not sufficient to support the thousands of additional cars that will be traveling to and from the proposed site containing a supermarket, 220+ residential units, and a drive thru bank. This will result in safety issues not only for residents along the local roads but likely the entire community serviced by the New Milford Ambulance station that is located in the heart of the new congestion area.
Third, while adding affordable housing opportunities to any community is an admirable thing to do, there is no evidence of analysis of the long term impact of this project upon our schools that are already near maximum capacity. Moreover, while local governments make development decisions chasing new revenues, adequate consideration to the funding of future liabilities to the schools, road system, and even water and sewage capacity is rarely considered. At what point do we consider over development over done?
Lastly, has anyone considered what will happen to the existing Shop Rite should this project pass? What is going to fill that huge empty building? Certainly the community cannot support two huge supermarkets. So what are we left with? Most likely increased flooding, more traffic, delays in ambulance service, overcrowded schools, strained infrastructure, and a huge vacant building serving as an eyesore where the existing Shop Rite stands.
Mike Kirk,
Oradell
eeeeeeeeeee@aol.com
8:39 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
The existing Shop Rite stinks. Maybe build something for the lazy people to get in shape.
eeeeeeeeeee@aol.com
8:40 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
so build nothing and then whine when taxes are tooo high
Nancy
11:45 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
Taxes are to high already, No one wants to pay more taxes but most of us already know this is not only about taxes this is about the quality of life in the surrounding towns. eeeeeeeeeeeeeee@aol.com, maybe you should come to some of our meeting and educate yourself about what really is going on. You seem to have no idea.
Martha
12:40 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
You must be really ignorant, & have possibly failed at math in school....How can you say that the taxes will go up if nothing is built? Whatever ratables NM will get, will be cancelled out by the additional taxes that will be tagged on to every homeowner! Do the research, & get the facts, & attend the meetings so you could educate yourself instead of typing out meaningless words! Who will pay for the damage to our roads, who will pay for the additional teachers, policemen, & emergency services? Do you think that the volunteer fire dept. will continue to be a volunteer dept? Who will pay for the education of the additional children to attend a school that is already 25% over-crowded? Who will pay for the buyouts of homes when additional homes flood? YOU, THAT'S WHO! IN 30 YEARS, THE TAXES HAVE NEVER GONE DOWN ONCE, SO GET REAL, GET A LIFE, DO YOUR HOMEWORK! WE ARE QUITE EDUCATED & SPEAK BASED ON FACTS. PERHAPS YOU DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE ARTICLE THAT WAS WRITTEN. YOU MAY HAVE FAILED READING IN SCHOOL. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD READ THE OTHER PATCH ARTICLES, THE RECORD, & TWIN-BORO NEWS. TO BE CONTINUED!
Martha
12:41 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS COMMENT-
PERHAPS YOU SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO GO TO A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH GOVERNOR CHRISTIE INSTEAD OF ACCUSING PEOPLE OF WHINING WHEN THE TAXES GO UP. QUITE THE CONTRARY, WE ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP THE TAXES DOWN; WE ARE FIGHTING TO MAINTAIN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE; WE ARE FIGHTING FOR DEVELOPMENT NOT TO TAKE PLACE IN THE FLOOD PLAIN, AS NM IS OVER-DEVELOPED. WE WORK AT OUR JOBS DURING THE DAY, & WE ARE WORKING SECOND JOBS BY DEVOTING POSSIBLY MORE HOURS BY DOING THE RESEARCH, & ATTENDING SEVERAL MEETINGS EACH WEEK,& OFTENTIMES NOT GETTING HOME PAST MIDNIGHT. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? SIT AT YOUR COMPUTER & THROW OUT FICTION. SEEMS TO BE THAT YOU ARE THE WHINER!
JD
4:38 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Based on the comments todate, I think that there is a fair chance that the UW development will NOT go forward. I also think that there is a fair chance THE EXISTING SHOP-RITE WILL CLOSE, and Mr. Inserra will find a location (like the old Huffman-Koos site in River Edge, or some other location, to build his Super Shop-Rite). Also, I would not blame him one bit. Why would he proceed in closing the existing Shop-Rite, losing cash-flow in the process, while it is being retro-fitted, with the end result being far less of a store than what is planned for the UW site? ... when he can wait until the new store is opened (on the UW property or somewhere else) and then seamlessly switch to that site?
I certainly hope that in the end game, New Milford retains a supermarket, but would really like to hear some logic about why it would be more financially feasible for Mr. Inserra to keep this open, given the opportunity to build a better, more profitable store nearby...because right now, all I see is an unbelieveable amount of effort to stop the new Shop-Rite, with no apparent concern on what the after-effects of stopping it will be in regard to the existing Shop-Rite. Remember, Shop-Rite is not obigated to be in this town.
Em
9:50 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
The other option eeeeeeeeeeee is to build and pay more taxes! The heavily traversed roads will be bearing trucks day and night...meaning repairs on who's dollar? Yours. The schools will be overcrowded and require more staff, more supplies, more desks, more books, more computers, more more more...on who's dollar? Yours. You suffer angina and think you need an ambulance and call 911, but guess what? The ambulance core is out at the concrete megastore helping a pedestrian who got run over by an elderly man who shouldn't be driving. So...you wait 20 minutes for help to arrive. Thank god it was only angina otherwise who would've paid? You...with your life!
Ulises
11:11 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
Mr. Kirk, so happy to hear Oradell residences, such as yourself, are realizing what a bad idea this development is for everyone and it's just not a headache for the folks in New Milford.
SOD!
miriam pickett
11:33 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
I am amazed when people are for this development because the current Shop Rite is out of date. You know what, you are a foolish person who doesn't understand the full impact of this prposal. I suggest you do the research about all the repercussions that will end up as an increase in your tax bill rather than lowering it.
Terr
11:57 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
Shop Rite need to update to stay competitive. Would you prefer Shop Rite in New Milford shut down and you have no options.
Martha
12:25 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
No one is preventing ShopRite from updating its existing location. I have lived in town for 30 years, & have not gone to Shop Rite in 25 years. There are so many options; there are plenty of supermarkets just a few minutes away. Do you think that I have not eaten in 25 years? People have no problem going to malls, but do have a problem going to supermarkets. I would love for Shop-Rite to update itself, but not in the middle of a flood plain. Would you drive your car into several feet of water to go to the new & improved Shop Rite? I will let you ponder that one!
Ulises
12:35 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Terr, Shop Rite doesn't belong in a flood plain and this developnent is in the town's 100 year flood plain. See for yourself.
http://www.newmilfordboro.com/attachments/058_NM%20EXT%208.5x11(flood%20plain).pdf
Martha
1:14 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Thank you so much for writing an excellent article regarding the detrimental impact that the proposed Hekemian development of the United Water property will have not just to New Milforf, but to our surrounding communities. This truly is not a NM issue, as many people falsely believe; it will definitely impact other communities. New Milford has always been a "good neighbor" to our surrounding towns, & we are fighting for that right to maintain that continuity, & quality of life! We certainly do not need "outsiders" with absolutely no ties to NM, to come in, take over, & bulldoze NM & our surrounding communities because they have deep pockets. To those "nay-sayers" I ask you this....WOULD HEKEMIAN & HIS CLAN COME TO LIVE IN HIS OWN MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT? THAT WOULD BE THE DAY THAT PEACE WILL BE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD & EVERY PERSON WILL LIVE IN PERFECT HARMONY!
Em
3:54 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
An equvolent argument ....A new and improved Walgreens on Kinderkamack Rd. would be convenient for New Milford residents...and the competition with CVS would keep the prices down and give NM residents much more options. Oradell vehemently argued and fought against it... And 221 apartments werent even included in the development, nor was it the foot print of the World Trade Center, nor was it 70k sq feet!
John R.
7:03 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
JR
eeeeeeeeeee@aol.com, just curious how the KOOLAID tastes in UW/Hekemian OZ?
As for your uninformed comments P-eeeeeeeeeee-W
SOD
Cathy Rittereiser
5:05 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Thank you for writing this informative and well thought out letter Mr. Kirk. ( I wont even give the time fo day to that eeeeeeee person, I think they are trying to get you guys worked up with their stupidity)
GGT
10:48 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
I don't think Mr. Inserra will open his Shop Rite at the old Hoofman Koos in River Edge, too close to the ST on Rt4, and not enough parking