Flood Prone Properties Eyed for Recreation Area

Flood-prone properties along Roosevelt Boulevard are being eyed in a potential expansion of recreation space adjacent to Truman Field, according to a presentation heard by the borough council last week.

Aaron Cela, representing the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, an organization preparing a county Open Space grant for the properties on behalf of the borough, told the council July 24 that the project would include 12 parcels of land on Roosevelt, the first phase of which would encompass five properties.

“For logistical and financial reasons, we decided to split the project into two phases,” Cela told the council.

According to Cela, an approval of the grant application from the county could cover 75 percent of the cost of acquiring the five properties, which officials have estimated at a total of $1.6 million. A $325,000 Department of Environmental Protection grant already obtained by the borough would cover most of the remaining costs.

“It’s possible that the borough might not need to spend any money at all on acquisition costs,” Cela said.

Councilman Pat Pignatelli raised the issue of the permanent loss in tax revenue that a buyout could represent.  But Cela noted that taxpayers would also benefit from recreation space, and save money on the costs of emergency response to the flood prone area.

According to officials, the severity of flooding in the area has left few options for aiding the oft-hit homeowners, who have expressed interest in a buyout program in meetings with the borough.

Cela called the Land Conservancy’s pitch for county grant money “outside the box,” noting that although Bergen doesn’t have a formal buyout program, the proposed recreation area might fit the criteria of Open Space funding.

“We think Bergen County will be receptive to this approach,” he said.

The properties along Roosevelt, should the borough find funding and the homeowners opt to sell, would be an annex to Truman field, though not a contiguous expansion, that would provide outdoor recreation space and fishing along the Ramapo River.

“We’re getting a little creative here, and thinking outside the box to help these people and help the borough,” Cela said.