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Community Corner

WHAT HAS SOD PROVIDED TO THE RESIDENTS OF NEW MILFORD?

MISSION STATEMENT:Stop Over Development - SOD - opposes the development of the United Water property adjacent to New Milford High School. We believe that New Milford’s best interests regarding this property is that it remain undeveloped to protect our flood prone areas and the residential nature of this part of New Milford. Compromise is not an option.

Stop Over Development- SOD was formerly recognized as a non- profit organization in July of 2012. The foundation concept of SOD was established in April of 2011 right after the first Hekemian concept illustrations presented at a M&C meeting held at NMHS. The meeting location was moved from Borough Hall due to the large crowd that was anxious to voice their concern and objections about this massive development.

Since then, members of the SOD executive committee, and general members, have participated, spoken out, objected to, and effectively challenged the Hekemian/United Water/ShopRite application to change the current “A” residential (single family) zoning and seek multiple variances to develop the last remaining large tract of land in NM.

SOD members continue to battle the developer at every opportunity to prevent this massive development of the formerly polluted United Water property adjacent to NM High School. Development of this tract will forever change the character of New Milford. 

SOD members have demonstrated their continuing commitment to this fight via attendance at;

• 64 - Mayor and council meetings
• 50 - Zoning Board of Adjustment meetings which includes 21 Special (Hekemian only) meetings
• Multiple Planning Board meetings
• Multiple Environmental Committee, and Shade Tree Committee meetings
• Meetings with, and presentations to, The Mayors and Councils, in Oradell and River Edge resulting in Oradell positioning itself as an “on record” objector and providing legal and “expert witness” participation
• Multiple meetings with county and state government representatives to enlist aid and support for our development objections
• Multiple meetings with, and information gathering from, county, state and federal agencies, DEP, DOT,EPA, US Geological Survey, etc.
• Multiple meetings with, and information gathering from, county, state and federal environmental agencies and groups, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Food and Water Watch, Bergen SWAN, League of Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action, The Wilderness Society, etc.
• Met with, and formed alliances with activist/objector groups in other communities, Oradell, River Edge, Emerson, Hillsdale, Cranford, etc.


In addition, SOD has continued to be actively involved in providing objective information to town residents via; SOD general membership meetings, group emails, town wide postal mailings, SOD primers, SOD brochures, SOD website, SOD Facebook presence, door-to-door efforts, etc...

SOD’s general mission was, and continues to be, to challenge the potential development of the formerly polluted United Water property adjacent to NM High School. SOD has been an active, and informed, objector to this project since it was first introduced. SOD has worked diligently to stay apolitical. We have never, as a group, endorsed or supported any individual candidate or political party.

As a matter of fact, SOD, with the assistance of the League of Woman Voters, has sponsored a bi-partisan Candidates Night during the last two elections. 
SOD does believe, and embrace the fact, that our efforts on behalf of NM and it’s residents have informed and educated voters to understand the politics of the supporters and objectors to this development and helped townspeople vote in an informed manner during previous town elections.

SOD has generated significant community support via a march on City Hall by over a hundred residents as well as presenting to the Mayor & Council, a petition with more than 1,200 signatures objecting to the development.
SOD continues its efforts at publicizing the objections to this development via stories in, and informative letters to the editors of, the Record, New Milford Patch and the Twin Boro News and other venues.

SOD has also been an exhibitor at National Night Out for the last two years. SOD continues its placement of Lawn signs, and development of flyers and informative brochures to keep NM residents aware of the continuing process. 

SOD Executive Committee, and general members collectively, have invested thousands of hours attending and holding meetings, performing due diligence gathering information vital to the objector process, rebutting expert witness testimony provided by the applicant and staying the course that SOD is committed to. 

SOD, and New Milford, needs your support to Stop Over Development in New Milford, join us on January 23rd at Borough Hall to tell the Zoning Board to please deny this application.

SOD IS IN IT TO WIN IT!

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