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Environmental concerns lead to rejected land use proposal
When parcels of land are abandoned or have otherwise not been in use for some time, development company owners may view those parcels as opportunities. However, zoning issues and environmental concerns can arise that make area residents wary as to whether construction is a good idea. In some cases, residents may be able to oppose such projects.
New Jersey readers may be interested in such a case that recently played out in another state. According to reports, land developers wanted to use a 104-acre parcel of land for a construction and demolition debris landfill. The land had previously been used as a dirt racetrack but had been abandoned for an undisclosed amount of time.
Area residents expressed concerns about the environmental impact that such a landfill would have, particularly on drinking water obtained from private wells, and the local zoning commission recently rejected a zoning change that would allow the project to move forward. The developers had requested a postponement of the decision so that they could gather more information about the land to address environmental concerns, but the request was rejected. It was unclear whether the developers would appeal the decision.
Having environmental concerns about a construction project can have a major influence on whether a project moves forward. If New Jersey residents have such concerns about a proposed project, they may wonder what they can do to effectively express those concerns. It may be worthwhile for interested parties to consider enlisting legal help to address such matters in hopes of preserving their areas as desired.
