Video: Public Presentation Highlights Flooding, River Patterns, Displacement

The New Milford Zoning Board continued to hear testimony from residents during the meeting on Tuesday evening.

A 13-acre property, owned by United Water, would be the new home of a 70,000 sq. ft. supermarket, a 4,300 sq. ft. bank and a 24-unit low-income housing complex. The property is located next to New Milford High School and across from the Senior Center.

Resident Richard Mide presented evidence for about 90 minutes Tuesday evening. Mide provided photographic and video evidence that shows the tendencies, patterns and damage that the Hackensack River can cause during times of flooding.

Mide also provided a brief science lesson on simple displacement.

“If I have two eight-ounce glasses, and I fill both of them with eight-ounces of water and put a rock in one of them, which one will overflow?”

Mide’s video evidence also attempted to prove that sand bars that form and grow in size, could play a major role in where and why sections of the river flood. Once such area that could be affected is the bus depot in Oradel.

"This is a problem we have to live with. We have these sandbars and we have displacement. But you want to put a ShopRite in an area right next to the river that will cause more displacement and more problems just because a flood map that was written by had 30 years ago says its ok. That makes no sense," said Mide. 

Click here to see more of Mide's videos on the river and flooding issues. 

The Zoning Board had hoped to hear from all members of the public who were in attendance Tuesday. If that were the case, the public presentation portion of this case would be closed. However, two residents were unable to give their presentations due to time constraints.

The public will have another opportunity to present evidence on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Borough Hall.