Elm Street resident Larry Alexander said he and his neighbors have watched as heavy construction equipment has been coming in and out of the Elm Street gate in preparation for starting to build the complex and they are wary that clear cutting will begin immediately.
However, attorney John Inglesino, a special counsel hired by the Florham Park council, said he doubted any removal of trees would occur now that there is a threat of a lawsuit by the citizens group and the possibility that the federal Fish Wildlife Service might reverse a finding, although he did not specify which one.
Delaney and Alexander said the land has been considered as a nesting ground for the Indiana bat, an endangered species.
Several proponents of the complex said due diligence had been going on for 10 years and complained that the public had not taken notice until after there were plans to put construction out to bid.
You had to have had your head in the sand, said Scott Carpenter, a recreation committee member. Weve been in public dialogue for two years.
Michael Lane said the fields were needed and said the plan was preferable as opposed to an industrial park or low income housing. This has to be done. We need it. Chatham has seven turf fields while Florham Park has none. Madison has a new turf field that took only a year and a half to build from when it was proposed, he said.
The need for fields has been studied, said Rick Zeien, a recreation committee member, and too many times, practice and or games have to be canceled because the fields are unusable. Additionally, council members said after the meeting that trees on Elm Street would be saved and replacement trees would be planted to create several wooded areas within the complex. A scale model in the council conference room shows the layout and landscaping.
Borough engineer Mike Sgaramarella said there are 267 parking spaces and access from Columbia Turnpike will be created to take traffic pressure off Elm Street.
Hopefully, all groups will come to a constructive solution, both short-term and long-term, Delaney said.
