Request for Extended Review Period on 2024 Redevelopment Plan

Dear Mayor and Council, 

Thank you for holding the information session about the 2024 Redevelopment Plan last Thursday night. There were many good questions and issues that were raised from both the City Council and the public, yet few real answers were provided to address concerns over the project's potential risks to health, safety, environment, quality of life, equity, and property damage. 

Many of the answers given by the professionals were vague and did little to satisfy concerns. For example, when asked about important issues, the City Planner said the Planning Board will address them during site plan approval. This is not accurate and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the authority of this ordinance. The ordinance controls what the Planning Board can do. In other words, if it's not in the ordinance, the board can't do it because this ordinance and Redevelopment Plan supersedes all zoning and land use ordinances. It was even noted by the Mayor that there would be no need to seek individual variances during site plan approval because the Redevelopment Plan supersedes them. When the professionals and developers say they will deal with these issues later, they cannot and will not. The Planning Board's hands will be tied. 

The Mayor forwarded me Mr. Opel's summary of DEP requirements for closing a landfill site (some actual links/citations would be helpful!). The proper closure of the landfill is of utmost concern, but also the excavation and blasting right next to the landfill (as well as extremely steep slopes) before the DEP even gets involved are also of great concern. The proximity could create fissures in rock during Phase 1 blasting and excavation that can increase the amount of leachate that can seep into our aquifer. The people in the new development don't have to worry about the groundwater because they will be getting city water. It seems the rest of Connaught Hill will continue to be neglected and disenfranchised by the City, as it has always been, which is shameful. Even if the Governing Body has no legal obligation to look out for the well being of the residents of this hill, they have a moral obligation. Who will be responsible for doing detailed monitoring of the groundwater for all potential toxins before, during, and after both phases of the project? I can afford to do this (and I certainly will, if this goes forward), but many of my neighbors cannot. 

We also need to be using numbers for the 1000 year flooding in our algorithms and models, not the 100 year flooding that was proposed, which we've seen many of in just the past decade. To do otherwise would be negligent. This is the bare minimum among so many concerns that have been raised that warrant longer discussion. 

I am frankly appalled that the public has been given a mere 20 calendar days to weigh in on what is potentially the largest development project Lambertville has ever seen. This review period MUST be extended. Councilwoman Lambert was empathetic to our concerns over the pace as well.  As one resident put it, we are depending on you all to protect us and the future of our town and the safety of our community is at great risk if we don't do a thorough examination. The public expects more time and concrete answers before approving this plan. Given the myriad potential negative effects and lack of solutions that is a more than reasonable ask.

Thank you,

Shaun Ellis