750 Walnut Avenue Update April 1, 2024
750 Walnut Avenue
Update
April 1, 2024
Members of the Cranford Township Committee, Township Administration and Somerset Union Soil Conservation District (SUSCD) met with Hartz Mountain Industries representatives on March 22, on location at the 750 Walnut Avenue work site, to express concerns about the conditions associated with the ongoing construction project. Specifically, the dust problems, traffic, berm, and landscape plan were discussed.
Separately, the Township has put Hartz on notice that it is out of compliance with its Planning Board approvals due to removing too many trees. The Township has demanded that Hartz return to the Planning Board for further hearings and that, if it fails to do so, it risks defaulting on the Redevelopment Agreements governing the project.
On March 25, Hartz seeded the two stockpiles of dirt on the construction site to aid in stabilizing the dirt and dust.
Hartz will send an updated soil-erosion plan to SUSCD to outline plans to extend the tracking pad for vehicles exiting the site. A water truck will remain on site to keep soil moist and to wash down vehicles leaving the site. A street sweeper will also remain active. An inspection by the SUSCD to confirm compliance with the plan is scheduled to occur.
Construction of internal roads of the 750 Walnut Avenue property, in both the commercial and residential area, is set to begin in the near future.
Cranford Police officers are continually monitoring traffic-related conditions.
New high-visibility “no truck traffic” signage is planned for Lexington Avenue and Walnut Avenue. Signage to indicate “no cross traffic from the site” will also be placed at Behnert Place and Walnut Avenue. To further the initiative to prohibit trucks from neighboring roads, the Township is planning to pass an ordinance to ban truck traffic from all of Sunny Acres.
Hartz has closed the middle driveway on the site and will only use the Lexington Avenue and Behnert Place driveways for the remainder of the construction project.
Hartz is set to start replenishment of the berm and intends to use the stockpiles as a resource to fill in the area of the berm between Lexington Avenue and Behnert Place along Walnut Avenue, as well as refill the berm where soil was removed. Hartz plans to plant trees along the berm and the northwestern portion of the property along the entirety of the train tracks.
Hartz was advised that they substantially deviated from the approved landscaping plan by removing far more trees on the property than the plan allowed. As a result, the Township directed Hartz to submit a new landscape plan to the Planning Board. Hartz is disputing the deviation from the plan and it is an ongoing matter.
Monitoring the site is an ongoing process led by the Township of Cranford and the SUSCD. The Township is committed to overseeing the project to ensure Hartz complies with its requirements and minimizes the impact on the community. Cranford’s residents are our upmost concern, and the Township will continue to hold Hartz responsible for its actions.