Lead Contamination Latest Roadblock For Ridgewood Plan To Add Ballfield To Historic Land

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Contamination from lead and metallic mercury was found last month in soil near Ridgewood's historic Zabriskie-Schedler House, holding up plans to put a soccer field on the historic property, and worrying residents.

The town's manager assured residents at the end of last month that "There is no imminent threat to public health on the site."

Still, residents want to know whether the soil was brought to the site or already there, and where the contamination came from.

Officials said they will conduct more testing, investigate the source of the contamination, and find out how to remediate the site and move forward.

The finding by the state Department of Environmental Protection is only the latest wrinkle in the long and winding battle over the future of the 200-year-old property.

Letter From Historian

The town had submitted an application to the state last year to put a soccer field, parking lot, and road on the historic Zabriskie-Schedler House land, but a group called the Friends of Historic Zabriskie-Schedler House has opposed the change.

Just a week before the town was notified of the contamination, an attorney for the Friends sent a letter to the state of New Jersey from a historian saying that the planned project will "substantially denigrate" the site.

The May 20 letter was signed by an expert for the objectors, Clifford W. Zinc, a professional historic preservationist.

In the letter, Zinc says that the plan for the property, located at 460 West Saddle River Road, "would be a massive encroachment with a scale and intensity of new construction that would substantially denigrate the historic significance of the property."

Among other issues, the undeveloped land on the site "is representative of its agricultural/pastoral function in its historical and cultural period."

Zinc also said the project would involve "the removal of virtually all of the present ground cover and flora on the historic site to accommodate both paving and artificial turf, destroying the historical integrity of the historic site and virtually all of its open land, described as a rare survival in the National Register nomination."

Aside from the contamination and potential historic ramifications, some residents have protested the idea of using turf for the fields, which the town recently approved.

Property History

The town completed a purchase of the property, including an 1825 Dutch home once owned by the farming Zabriskie family, in 2009.

Historic preservation experts, neighbors, and others have sparred over whether the house should be moved, and what kind of fields or recreational paths and park amenities should be placed on the property. (See a petition here.)

The property was most recently owned by the Smith family, who had bought the home in 1908.

Carman Smith's daughter Florence Schedler died in 2007.

Town Response

The historic significance may be a moot point in light of the Department of Environmental Protection letter about the soil, which was submitted to the town's health officer on May 29.

Testing on May 15 found 169 parts per million of lead and .29 ppm of metallic mercury.

The township manager posted on May 30, "Matrix will provide a full report to the Village early next week with findings, analysis and recommendations. They are working through the lab analysis and a review of alternative remediation standards as set forth by NJ DEP. In speaking to Matrix, I have confirmed that there is no imminent threat to public health on the site. Once additional information is available it will be shared with the public. Rest assured that the Village of Ridgewood will follow all requirements of the NJ DEP and the recommendations of Matrix and other professional service providers to address any and all remediation which may become necessary on the property."

Fields Still Needed

Town officials have agreed that more fields are needed for sports in town, including soccer and baseball, but not everyone has agreed on their
scale, construction, or location.

The town listened to testimony at a council meeting last July from a preservation expert, who floated the idea of acquiring adjacent land on West Saddle River Road and moving the historic home.

See prior reporting here.