Dear Editor;
In the context of my comments below, for the Hudson Reporter to only publish the last two sentences and prefaced it that “Critics of the project were satisfied with the decision” is at the least misleading. While I understand that lack of space may have dictated shortening my comments, it was wrong to put the “spin” on it that your writer chose to take.
“As a resident of North Bergen who attended the Appleview hearings, it was very disappointing that the Planning Board approved another development that unnecessarily disturbs the steep slopes of the Palisades Cliffs despite a 2008 resolution of the planning board protecting the cliffs. But equally appalling was the lack of fiduciary investigation of the safety measures needed to protect the public by the planning board. The public heard the attorney for the planning board state that the board had no jurisdiction to compel the testimony of the gas pipeline operator on the safety concerns. Now the courts have been forced to intercede and tell the planning board what it should have known, safety of the public is paramount in any planning board decision. We hope the planning board will get it right this time.”
The North Bergen township Resolution of May 28, 2008 which can be found on page 203 of the town’s Zoning Ordinance and published on the town’s web site, requires the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment to “…..assure that the Palisades is adequately protected and not visually impaired.”
Under this resolution, the nearby AVAK strip mall development on River Road for a branch of Bank of America, Walgreens and a coffee shop was approved and allowed to destroy large sections of the cliffs. The developer of Churchill Estates consisting of townhouses and a high rise tower was allowed to also demolish large sections of the cliffs on Church Hill Road because it was done before the resolution was passed by the town. However, now the developer has come back to the Board of Adjustment with a request to increase the high rise to 80 units from the approved 54 units and to increase the tower to 15 stories. This would effectively block out any views of the cliffs. The Appleview developer, Carmen Spoleti, also has an application with the board of adjustment to develop a 2nd property on Church Hill Road that will remove large sections of the Palisades Cliffs.
When will North Bergen take their responsibilities as stewards of preserving a 200 million year old landmark known worldwide and support preservation over continued mindless, ill designed developments in the name of “tax ratables”? We live in the most densely populated county in northern N.J. Open space and natural light is a disappearing commodity unless we understand their impact on our quality of life and a reason to continue living in Hudson County.
Peggy Wong,
President of Coalition to Preserve the Palisades Cliffs