Posted: March 8, 2006

For the last six years the Bloomfield Third Riverbank Association has successly lead efforts question each step of the process to build 114 townhomes Greg Leo and others have wanted to erect on a flood plain of the Third River where Scientific Glass once operated (at the end of Liongate Drive).

While Leo was able to gain municipal approvals for the project, approvals are still needed from the state. The new owner of record of the property, Arthur Fefferman and AFC Realty, recently began this process.

In a letter dated Feb. 22, 2006 from Boswell Engineering, homeowners living within 200 feet of the project were notified of Fefferman's official request for waivers and permits from the NJDEP. Boswell/Fefferman is asking to put fill on the property as well as build retaining walls, stormwater basins,outfall structures and transition areas.

Once again you can help put pressure on the NJDEP to take concerns about flooding and river bank erosion seriously. We ask everyone to write to the NJDEP about these concerns.

The strongest reply to the permit request is to write your own response and detail your own flooding or erosion experiences or your personal concerns with the proposed project. For those unable to write a letter, we have supplied a postcard which you can mail.

According to Boswell's letter any responses are to be returned with a copy of the Feb. 22 letter and are supposed to include copies of Boswell's letter. You should consider doing that. Also, Boswell's letter says replies should be sent within two weeks of Feb. 24 (however, the NJDEP will review letters up until decisions are reached). Timeliness is important!

Questions/comments?: e-mail thirdriverbank@yahoo.com

Letters should be sent to: NJDEP, Bureau of Land Use Regulation Program, 501 East State Street, P.O.Box 439, Trenton, New Jersy 08625-0439, Attn: Mark Godfrey, Section Chief.