Development Near West Essex Highlands Discussed In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange town officials recently held an informational meeting for local residents who are concerned about potential development at a 120-acre tract of land near the border of Essex Fells.

Local advocates’ efforts to preserve the area dates back to 1987, when a development firm bought a 185-acre plot of land near the West Orange-Essex Fells border and began building a cluster of townhomes along the slopes of the Second Watchung Mountain. But the work ended abruptly when state lawmakers passed a moratorium on wetlands development, The Four Oranges reported.

Development plans at the property have since become entangled in the township’s affordable housing obligations, a twist that Mayor Susan McCartney addressed during a public meeting regarding the West Essex Highlands Development on May 10.

A township spokesperson released a recap of the meeting, which follows below:

“Mayor Susan McCartney facilitated a community meeting at the Wilshire-Grand Hotel on May 10 regarding the West Essex Highlands Development. A presentation cited a timeline from 2015, when West Orange filed a declaratory judgment complaint to determine their low-and moderate-income housing requirements, as was required by the Supreme Court Order of Fairness and Preliminary Round 3 Mt. Laurel Order of Compliance by all municipalities in the state of New Jersey.

“Fair Share Housing Mount Laurel Court Master Elizabeth McManus was appointed by the court. Special Master McManus conducted extensive mediation with Fair Share Housing, the West Essex Highlands Condominium Association, and West Essex Highlands-Garden Homes, the owner of the 120-acre tract who intervened and participated in all mediation sessions along with then-council members Joe Krakoviak and Susan McCartney. Fair Share Housing expert Shirley Bishop and Environmental Compliance Officer Wayne DeFeo were involved in various aspects of this mediation process. Of this 120-acre parcel, 61 acres are developable, however, the agreement restricts the development to no more than 30 acres of disturbance.

“The township council adopted a resolution on April 14, 2020 approving the Fair Share Housing Settlement Agreement, followed by the township, West Essex Highlands Inc. and the West Essex Condominium Association executing the settlement agreement on April 23, 2020. The special master issued a report and the Superior Court approved the agreement. The agreement was unanimously approved by the township council and zoning amendments were introduced, noticed in accordance with applicable law, advertised and approved.

“[During the May 10 meeting], Mayor McCartney introduced West Orange Township's Environmental Compliance Officer Wayne DeFeo, who presented an overview of the proposed plan and the environmental safeguards and enhancements. The Mayor's Office mailed 350 letters to the residents living on streets adjacent to the 120-acre parcel to provide informational community engagement spanning the 20-year history of the site.

“Currently the application has been submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. If or when NJDEP permits are approved, the application will then be subject to public meetings before the West Orange Planning Board.”

West Orange town officials noted that the presentation and the West Essex Highlands Settlement Agreement can be viewed on the township’s website at the following links:

https://www.westorange.org/DocumentCenter/View/11281/2020-Settlement-Agreement-compressed-version

https://www.westorange.org/DocumentCenter/View/11282/WestEssexHighlandsmay2023PPPresentation-Autosaved

Some residents have argued that the development proposal doesn’t fly, however – even considering the town’s affordable housing obligations.

Local advocacy group Our Green West Orange had this to say on social media prior to last week’s public meeting:

“400 apartments to be built on steep slope destroying 6,400 trees. Speak out against this to Mayor McCartney at the meeting. No affordable housing settlement should allow 6,400 trees to be cut, flood the neighbors and threaten safety with a one lane road-Oval Road into the complex. Take the project elsewhere!”

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