Industrial Development Impacts Residents: View From the Other Side

Residents of the Northeastern part of South Brunswick have watched acres and acres of farmland developed into warehousing and other industrial uses over the last twenty years. Many of us have protested developments, especially those affecting residential homes. Over these years, many homeowners have sold their properties and moved away to escape the industrial zones.

Now another assault on residents of this portion of the Township is nearing a decision.

A developer proposed building a concrete batch plant and an oil storage warehouse on Fresh Ponds Road.  The land is zoned residential and there are at least fourteen homes across the road from the site.

There is an asphalt plant there now—an industrial use never truly approved by the Township Zoning Board—and the developer has repeatedly claimed its operation is far worse than the proposed new plant. But the asphalt plant has hardly been open for the last three or four years and is an outdated facility. Residents who know the plant all agree they would much rather have it than a new more intensive industrial use on the land.

But the larger problem is approval of any kind of industrial use in the area. The lot sits surrounded on three sides by the Pigeon Swamp State Park and on the fourth side by five brand new homes.  Underneath the site is an important aquifer and not far away lies the Great Ditch, headwaters of the Lawrence Brook Watershed with water feeding into Farrington Lake which is a critical water supply to the New Brunswick area. 

Bad enough to disturb the quality of life of our residents with the noise, truck traffic and general nuisance of a busy concrete plant, but even worse to risk the environment by transporting and storing oil, antifreeze, solvents, and all manner of polluting fluids right on top of our aquifer. 

Despite the developer’s promises to enforce all kinds of safeguards to prevent spills, I am always reminded of all the promised companies such as BP made when granted the right to drill in the Gulf.  Do we ever learn from the lessons of history?  Do we dare take such a risk with our water? 

Industrial development does not belong in residential neighborhoods and it does not belong within the boundaries of protected parklands.

On Thursday, August 18, starting at 7:45, the Township Zoning Board will conduct what will probably be the last hearing on this application.  Several residents have yet to speak on this issue to present the case opposing the project.  They and the residents of Fresh Ponds Road would certainly appreciate your support. If you believe residents deserve protection from industrial development, come to the meeting.