W. Milford housing projects look dead
Wednesday, September 12, 2007

By BARBARA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER

Two controversial housing proposals in West Milford, fought bitterly by residents and environmentalists for years, probably will not be built.

That's because the deadline for starting construction in water-preserving areas has come and gone, and construction hasn't started for either Eagle Ridge or Valley Ridge developments. A total of 388 town houses were planned on two separate wooded tracts.

But neither project had progressed to the point required by the 2004 Highlands Act -- putting shovels in the ground by Aug. 10.

Now both must either apply to the state Department of Environmental Protection for permits to build on land that has been designated as preservation areas or try to get the go-ahead in the court system, both lengthy and expensive procedures.

Eagle Ridge, a proposed 288-unit townhouse development off Cahill Cross Road, has been on the design table for more than 20 years. Water -- whether there was enough of it to sustain the new homes and existing residences in the area -- hung up the project for the last several years.

Water-supply questions also played a part in delaying the 100-unit Valley Ridge project off Valley Road in the north end of town. But this one stalled, too, over the Planning Board's denial of the site plan.

Developer Trammel Crowe Residential had to go to court to get the board's decision overturned. But the November court ruling still did not bring the start of construction by the state deadline. The developer's representatives did not returned several calls for comments.

Both projects had been allowed to move forward after the state law was enacted because they had already received local permits, a stipulation every project in the seven counties and 88 municipalities in the Highlands area needed to receive the three-year exemption.

Maria Wolfgang, one of the owners of the 70-acre Eagle Ridge tract, said on Tuesday that the owners intend to fight the Highlands Act in court.

"This was my retirement, and they've taken my land," Wolfgang said, referring to the state and municipality. "It's not like they're even paying market value for it -- they have no money."

Wolfgang is not alone. Builders and landowners are already challenging the law or forming groups to have it overturned. They say they are paying taxes on land they can't build on or sell.

Representatives for the developer have not indicated what they plan on doing with the 12-acre Valley Ridge parcel. Their plan had included 11 units designated for low- and moderate-income residents.

Copyright © 2007 North Jersey Media Group Inc.