For Immediate Release
December 13, 2018
Contact: Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club, 609-558-9100
The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that Bi-County Developers can develop property High Mountain in Oakland in the New Jersey Highlands. Despite being challenged by the Sierra Club and Highlands Coalition, the court’s decision found that both Bi-County and the NJDEP complied with laws and regulations. The Bi-County/Pinnacle permits were denied in 2008 by the DEP and now the DEP decided to settle the case by issuing these permits.
“The Supreme Court ruling is disappointing. This ruling will now allow a damaging 200 home development in an environmentally sensitive area and scenic in the Highlands Preservation Area. The Murphy Administration did not want to settle, so we had to go to court and defend the Highlands and the Highlands Act from developers,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We have been fighting to protect High Mountain from this development since 1988 and it’s a crime that it may get developed under Murphy.”
This proposal includes a development of over 200 homes next to a C1 stream in the Highlands Preservation Area. The site rests atop High Mountain, a scenic mountain which is a symbol of the Highlands.
“This development is the largest pieces of forested tract on the eastern side of the Highlands. The site includes endangered species and an important water supply from the Ramapo River for more than 3 million people. Development of this site will irreparably harm endangered species habitat, as well as the water supply and flooding for the people of northern New Jersey,” said Tittel.
The site contains nearly every important environmental feature that exists in the Highlands, including Category 1 streams, exceptional resource value wetlands, Highlands waters, endangered plant and animal species, steep slopes, scenic vistas, and more.
“The Murphy Administration could have settled case with environmentalists and protected the Highlands but instead he sided with the Christie Administration and developers. Lisa Jackson had denied these permits on wetlands, endangered species issues, and sewer service areas. The developer then sued. The Christie Administration settled the case by giving them the permits. Murphy could have reopened the case and denied them permits, the opposite of what Christie did but never lifted a finger. Murphy needs to move forward to buy this property for Green Acres to avoid destructive damage in the Highlands Preservation,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The Supreme Court ruling is a major threat to the Highlands. Now it is up to Governor Murphy to stand up for clean water and protect this the Highlands, otherwise it will be his administration that will be responsible for development that will go forward.”