Neighbors Voice Concerns About Subdivision

The Summit planning board met for a public hearing that drew a crowd largely against the planned subdivision at 10 Highland Drive.

Creating two single-family homes: The plans by Short Hills developers Harry Allan & Alicia Connaughton call for two "L" shaped homes that are 15,798 square-foot each. According to the engineer on the project, Peter Korzen, building on the .72-acre site would require removing 15 trees and building a retaining wall around a portion of the property. The developers are seeking three variances:

• Lot width variance 
• Lot area variance
• Steep slope variance

Impact on residents: A lawyer has been hired to help residents fight the development. Homeowners in the area of Rotary and Highland drives are concerned about the tree removal, erosion, driveway parking and more importantly breaking through bedrock in the mountainous area. "I'm concerned about blasting," said Highland Drive resident Karen Haberl, "and whatever you do to remove bedrock." Another resident asked if dynamite would be used to clear the site, but didn't get a definitive answer from Korzen or the project planner.

The public hearing will continue on March 26, when the planning board will continue to hear testimony from witnesses as well as more questions from the public.