Ford Avenue plans head to board for approval
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

MILLTOWN - As redevelopment plans for Ford Avenue finally go before the Planning Board, there remains strong debate over the project.

The site plan approval being sought, while essential, would not be the last hurdle for the project to move forward. Environmental cleanup issues comprise a major part of the preparations, according to AnthonAy Zarillo, chairman of the Ford Avenue Redevelopment Agency.

"The environmental matter is still moving forward on a parallel track," Zarillo said. "As of right now, the major matter before the agency is the cleanup."

The agency is required to submit a remedial action work plan (RAW) to lay out the design for cleanup on the property once used by the Michelin Tire Co. From there, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reviews the plan to ensure it meets with state requirements, and then alters it accordingly.

"The DEP is the controlling factor here," Zarillo said.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now conducting preliminary remediation on a large area of the site that is considered a minimally impacted area (MIA). This comprises at least three-quarters of the property, Zarillo said.

"What we have been doing over the past four years is a detailed investigation of the contaminants at the site," Zarillo said. "That area, to date, has shown lower levels of contamination, much lower than anticipated."

A RAW will also have to be created for the area near the former power house, which comprises about one-quarter of the property and contains higher levels of contamination. This portion was found to have asbestos and other contaminants, Zarillo said.

The task force that was formed to conduct an environmental site investigation is still in the process of completing it. They will determine whether claims by Charlie Jegou, founder of Milltowners for a $ensible Ford Avenue Redevelopment, are true. Jegou has said there are underground drums containing contaminants at the site, as well as exploded transformers and residue from a mercury spill. To date, no evidence has been found to substantiate this, according to Zarillo, and Charlie Jegou could not immediately be reached for comment.

"We have not completed our investigation, but when we do, Milltown residents can rest assured that no other brownfields site has undergone such a thorough investigation. And more importantly, the redevelopment project will meet all the requirements and guidelines of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA," Zarillo said.

Among those working on the cleanup with the DEP and the redevelopment agency is Richard Chapin, an environmental engineer involved with Jegou's Milltowners' group.

In the meantime, the Planning Board was expected to begin reviewing redeveloper Omar Boraie's Ford Avenue application for site plan approval after press time yesterday.

Zarillo said he could not speculate on whether the site plan approval will be granted, or if any problems would arise.

The redevelopment project is slated to include 276 residential units, which are opposed by the Milltowners' group. The group has called for more commercial development and open space at the site.

Zarillo said the project was originally going to include 471 housing units, and that number was reduced because of citizens' concerns. Still, the citizens' group is not happy with the plans. Among their concerns are population density and traffic congestion on the school route, as well as additional costs generated for the borough through added facilities being used.

Most of the additional costs generated by the project will be covered by the developer, Zarillo said, adding that any additional costs incurred by the town will be recovered through the rates of utilities. He noted that the housing will all be age-restricted, and no new students will be brought into the school system by the project. Overall, when the project is built out, Zarillo said, it will generate approximately an additional $1.16 million in property tax revenue. He said this number was produced by the borough auditor.

Alex Weiner, a member of the Milltowners' group, said there is a possibility that new students will be brought into the school system if residents sell their current homes to families with children and move into one of the new housing units on Ford Avenue. He also took issue with the selling prices for the units, ranging from $400,000 to $575,000.

"Milltown is a blue-collar town, and has been for a long time," said Weiner. "This is a total non sequitur to Milltown."

Of the housing units, 50 will be rentals, with the balance consisting of condominiums and townhomes. While prices were made public by Boraie Development Ltd. for the age-restricted condominiums and townhouses, Weiner said, none were given for the rentals.

The commercial and retail components of the project will consist of about 25,800 square feet, according to Zarillo.

A total of approximately eight acres will be dedicated to open space. Four of these, located along Mill Pond, are dedicated exclusively as open space, and will be purchased by the Middlesex County Board of Freeholders. The remainder of the open space consists of a combination of greenways, walkways and areas of vegetation.

Zarillo said most of the town's residents are happy with the way the project is unfolding, and that is why few of them come to meetings of the agency.

Weiner, on the other hand, said many residents disagree with the project plans, and have expressed that to the Milltowners. Weiner said people choose not to get involved because they are intimidated, and they feel hesitant about having their ideas and concerns discounted by members of the agency.

"[Zarillo] is constantly telling people to shut up and sit down, in those words, when someone says something he doesn't want to hear," Weiner said.

While Zarillo said he "sometimes resent[s] neophytes who have no experience in any of these disciplines" voicing opinions that he views as unfounded, he disputes the claim that he intimidates residents at meetings.

"If asking people to be forthright, honest and factual about the project is intimidating, then I plead guilty," said Zarillo. "I know Milltown as well as anybody. If we were pursuing a project that Milltowners didn't want, they'd be at the meetings en masse. I am not going to abort this project on the basis of four or five people who are against it."

At the three meetings the Milltowners' group has held, there has been a turnout of between 75 and 300 residents, Weiner said.