Build Housing On Forest In West Orange? Not So Fast, Commission Says

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Environmental Commission is asking the local planning board to slam the brakes on a controversial plan to build housing on a large patch of forest.

Some residents have been raising concerns about potential development at a tract of land on the western ridgeline of the Watchung Mountains, which also borders Essex Fells, Verona and Roseland. Known as the West Essex Highlands project, the idea was shot down by the West Orange Planning Board in 2006, but has recently resurfaced – with changes.

Short Hills-based firm West Essex Highlands Inc. wants to build a 496-unit residential development on the property, which is “heavily vegetated with mature trees,” according to planning documents. The plan is to make 100 of those units “affordable.” Read More: Housing Proposed Near Forest In West Orange, Verona, Essex Fells

The planning board held two meetings to discuss the proposal in July, which the commission referenced in their letter. The board plans to pick up where it left off at another meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m. See the draft agenda with supporting documents here.

Last week, the West Orange Environmental Commission added their voices to the debate, sending their peers on the planning board a letter that urges them to postpone consideration of the project.

The commission’s letter follows below.

"The West Orange Environmental Commission met on July 24. 2024 to discuss the above-captioned matter regarding development of the property commonly known as the West Essex Highlands (the 'Proposed Development'). Given the grave environmental impact that the Proposed Development will have on the property, on the watershed and wetlands located on the property and in surrounding towns (Essex Fells and Verona) , on the steep slopes located on and around the property, and impact on surrounding neighborhoods and homes, we write to express our view that the Planning Board's consideration of the application is premature at this time. We ask that the Planning Board postpone consideration of the Proposed Development until such time that it may benefit from relevant information not currently available to the Planning Board. Specifically. consideration of this matter at this time will deprive the Planning Board of critical information to come as a result of the property owner's pending application with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (the 'DEP').

"In 2023 the property owner presented the Proposed Development to the DEP for consideration and after hearing the owner's attorneys and representatives and after hearing from residents and other concerned citizens, the DEP was preparing its decision on the owner's application. Just before the deadline for the DEP to issue its opinion, the owner rescinded its application and no DEP decision was published. We understand that this month the owner reified an amended application with the DEP for its consideration. That application is currently before the DEP and is pending resolution and therefore cannot be considered by the Planning Board in its analysis of the Proposed Development.

"We believe that the Planning Board must include consideration of the expert opinions and decisions of the DEP. Without such information, the Planning Board risks issuing an opinion adverse to the DEP; thus wasting time and resources of our municipality. Planning Board consideration of the Proposed Development at this time indicates that the Planning Board may be substituting its opinions for that of the experts at the DER The Planning Board should therefore cancel the hearings currently scheduled for July 30 and 31, pending DEP review so that the Planning Board and all interested parties may consider DEP's expert opinion on the matter prior to any ruling being made by the Planning Board."

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