The re-opening of hearings on West Brook Hills II began last evening before the Ringwood Planning Board. CLEAN's objection that residents were improperly notified of the hearings in November and January prompted the board to reopen the hearings so public comment could be heard.

A packed roomful of residents attended the April 28th hearings. CLEAN had mailed information on the development to all Ringwood residents, prompting the high attendance level. Developer Jack Levkovitz brought his cadre of experts, including his surveyor Boyce McGeogh, his engineer Frank Loscalzo, planner Kenneth Ochab, and his attorney Glenn Peterson.

CLEAN's attorney, Michael Kates, questioned the applicant's experts on stormwater and slope calculations, and paved the way for a presentation by CLEAN's Environmental Engineer and Planner John Thonet, who will hopefully testify at the next hearing. Residents, led by former Planning Board member Tom MacAllen, provided a thorough grilling of the witnesses, focusing primarily on the potential impacts of stormwater on the West Brook, a pristine FW1-TP trout production C-1 classified waterway lying just outside of the propopsed development area. Planning Board members asked few questions, but did offer a letter from North Jersey District Water Supply Commission (NJDWSC), who manage the Wanaque reservoir. The reservoir feeds 2 million New Jersey residents with clean drinking water. North Jersey District opposes the development unless assurances can be made that the development will not negatively impact the reservoir's water quality in any way. A similar letter provided in November by North Jersey was largely ignored by the planning board during the first hearings. Mr. Levkovitz current development project, West Brook Hills I, is adjacent to this tract and has already been cited several times for depositing silted runoff into the stream, which feeds the reservoir.

When engineer Frank Loscalzo was questioned on whether the stormwater management measures for the development would address North Jersey's concerns, he stated, "Based on the regulations, we have followed all the laws. If after that there are any problems, the problems are not ours." Mr. Loscalzo also stated that Mr. Levkovitz required no permits from the state for his proposed development.

But residents, especially Mr. MacAllen, were dissatisfied with Mr. Loscalzo's assessment, and further questioned him on the development's potential impact on the stream. Mr. MacAllen asked Loscalzo about the type of soils used in his calculations of the runoff. Mr. Loscalzo stated that whatever soil was the fatest, that was what he used.

Ross Kushner, Executive Director of the Pequannock River Coalition, took the line of questioning further, asking about stormwater detention basins provided on the site, and whether Mr. Loscalzo knew of the quality of the stream and the aquatic life living there. Mr. Loscalzo admitted that he didn't know what type of fish were in the stream. The West Brook, a trout-production C-1 waterway, contains one of two remaining breeding populations of native rainbow trout in the state. The C-1designation is also significant, since it commands the highest level of protection for the stream offered by the state.

Steep slopes were also a point of contention, as surveyor Boyce "Buck" McGeogh stated that all of the lots on the 160+ acre parcel had an average slope of under 20%. (Average slope in excess of 20% would require the developer to obtain a waiver). Mr. McGeogh explained that his calculations had resulted in less than 20% slope, but under questioning admitted that his methodology and that of other engineers could result in different results. "He could come up with a different number. The numbers are subject to review," McGeogh said.

The hearings will continue on Monday, May 12th at 8:00 pm at Ringwood Borough Hall.

April 12, 2003
For further information about the West Brook Hills II development, read below.

The development calls for 39 homes arrayed around a large wetland area. The property contains steep slopes, some in excess of 30%. For further information about this development plan, read on.

• West Brook Mountain is a critical piece of the Wyanokie connector, forming a greenway between Norvin Green State Forest and the Tory Tract. If West Brook Mountain is developed, the forest will be fragmented, isolating the wildlife and making them prone to search for food in residential areas.
• This site contains the headwaters for one of only two trout production streams in New Jersey, with a breeding population of native rainbow trout.
• The acres of wetlands on the site feed the West Brook and ultimately, the Wanaque Reservoir, which provides drinking water for 2 million New Jersey residents.
• The tract is a main groundwater recharge area. Water quality and quantity in wells in the Stonetown section of the borough could be affected.
• The reason this approval is being rammed through quickly is to protect the developer from strict new state stormwater regulations scheduled for implementation in August. These rules could significantly cut the number of allowable sites for this development.
• The property contains two 850' peaks with slopes that often exceed 30%.The terrain is so steep that the developer escorted Planning Board members on a tour of the rough terrain in his Humvee, eliminating the need to walk the property.
• The developerÕs current subdivision has been cited numerous times for poor stormwater management. It has already sent silt and runoff into the West Brook. A Soil Conservation District officer noted that neither the Borough nor the state had required detention basins in the site plan, so the ongoing silt problems were difficult to correct.
• In a recent press release, Mayor Jerry Holt justified the approval of this development by citing a need for tax ratables. He stated that these 39 homes would bring in $550,000.But if the average home has 1.5 children, the education costs would exceed $526,000.* With road maintenance, garbage pickup, police and emergency services, and other municipal services added on, it is easy to see that there is no cost benefit to a development such as this. (*Based on Ringwood's K-8 per student cost of $9,011- NJ Dept. of Ed. comparative spending figures, March 2003. High School students cost over $12,000 per student according to the same report).
• More than any other development thus far, West Brook II will change the character of Ringwood by devastating an 850 foot mountain peak. By comparison, Governors Mountain is 600 feet, Saddle Mountain is 1000 feet, and the lookout tower off Skyline Drive is 700 feet!