The Highlands Council voted 10-0 to adopt a staff recommendation which claims that a 209 unit town home development on 84 acres violates Highlands rules against extending wastewater systems into the preservation area, building in an area where the water supply is allegedly overused, building with 300 feet of streams and in an endangered/threatened species habitat.

Pinnacle, the developer, argued that since it included a component to assist the municipality in complying with its affordable housing obligations, it was exempt from the Council’s review under the Act.  However, the Council maintained it had jurisdiction and that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection had advised the Council that could not proceed with evaluating a wastewater permit for the project without the Council’s input. 

According to the Record, “the staff report recommended against DEP approval unless Pinnacle revises its plan. Those revisions would include avoiding steep slopes and stream corridors and providing more water than the complex would use.” 

Despite receiving local planning board approval and winning a legal battle to allow connection to the local sewer system, the project must receive a DEP wastewater permit in order to proceed.  One of the key issues for DEP to consider in connection with review of the permit is whether the project will have a negative impact on the Ramapo River, which provides drinking water to downstream communities.

For the full article from the Record, click here.