Letters to the Editor

CHCC's proposed complex creates concers about the environment

Dear editor,

The Christian Health Care Center plans to construct a major senior citizens complex on over 19 acres of steeply sloped, unspoiled woodlands in Hawthorne and Wyckoff.

The proposed plan currently calls for 258 one and two bedroom condo units, ranging in price from approximately $350,00 to $500,000, an Olympic sized swimming pool, dining hall and administrative offices. In addition there will be underground parking and several outdoor parking areas, and a lighted roadway that will encircle the entire complex. This mammoth project will rise in excess of four stories, over 62 feet high, and its construction will completely demolish a very important forest habitat. It will dominate the area's suburban landscape, creating an eyesore visible for miles.

The CHCC Board clearly feels this is in the public's best interest, largely because it will allow more spry seniors to "age in place", as they put it, since assisted living is just down the hill.

This proposed complex may very well be in the public's best interest, if the public consisted only of builders, developers, the real estate footprint and the bottom line of the CHCC, and fairly well-heeled seniors, but it will seriously affect the quality of life for existing area residents. The development will completely destroy the habitat of scores of woodland animals and thousands of trees and woodland plants.

For instance, the white-tailed deer who live in this forest are territorial, they stake out a one-mile square area for their home. Without this forest, they will be living and munching on all front lawns and gardens, along with displaced rabbits, groundhogs, squirrels, chipmunks, coyotes, raccoons, turtles and birds. They don't mean to be a nuisance, but due to irresponsible construction over the years and removal of natural predators these lovely creatures have become a problem. Where can they ' "age in place".

Developers like to try to convince the public that they can contain the inevitable deluge that occurs during heavy rains when tree and plant roots and natural underground veins of water are cut off by construction. One need only look to Lafayette Hills in Hawthorne to see that this is, in fact, not the case. No amount of holding ponds or drainage systems will adequately contain the mountains of mud, rocks and water that will literally race down the hill once this forest is removed.

And after this increased flooding plays havoc with local yards and basements, its flow will ultimately terminate in the Passaic River, the most polluted river in the area, full of toxic chemicals. And during flooding rains, this river will rise even higher as long as construction projects like these are approved.

On the public safety side, there are serious concerns about traffic and firefighting ability.

At issue is whether the Fire Department can perform effective rescue in several areas of the complex due to steep slope and the height of the proposed buildings.

There will also be serious issues of sight line obstruction on the proposed roadways, in addition to increased congestion and the negative impact to businesses across the street due to the creation of curbing and the widening of areas of Sicomac Avenue from two lanes to four.

Multiple variances will be required due, to steep slope (among other inequities) and because this complex is in violation of the current RA-25 residential/agricultural zoning ordinance.

Obvious down sides to this proposal include noise and dust pollution during construction, increased traffic congestion, lowered property values in the area and the eyesore of this looming complex on the hill, but there is a larger issue at hand here.

At issue is what kind of world does this community live in - one governed by short-sighted gain, where builders, developers and politicians made deals behind closed doors or one where the ecological balance of the planet is compromised to the point where it's beyond recovery. 
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Some say this problem is too big, that a small group of objectors can't do anything to stop it. I disagree. People can make a difference, by pointing out to their leaders that there are alternatives, including responsible construction using ecologically-sound principles and materials from sensitive environmental areas. Sometimes, progress means saying "no" - so residents can have a balanced lifestyle where trees and concrete can co-exist peacefully.

Elleen Deutsch

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