DEP: No Decision Yet for Railroad Avenue Bypass Road

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has yet to make a decision on whether to issue Lacey Township a Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) permit for the proposed

“We are still in the process of preparing our response to the public comments that we’ve received,” Larry Hajna, spokesperson for the DEP said.

Residents had until Friday, Feb. 17 to submit comments regarding the controversial road project to the DEP.

The DEP is currently preparing a comment response document that will be available to the public, Larry Ragonese of the DEP previously said.

Once the document is developed the DEP can move forward on a decision, although an expected date was not provided.

for the protection area and has determined that storm water quality standards will be met, a letter from the township regarding the approval says.

Although the DEP will be considering public comment, the decision is primarily based on environmental issues, Ragonese said.

“Whether there’s a local sentiment about a path or proposed linear park, that has to be a local government decision,” he previously said. “[The township] came to us with a permit request on environmental issues. That’s our role there.”

Continue to follow Lacey Patch as this story develops.