Massive Sprawl Development Follows Christie DEP Approval of New Sewer Plant

Sham downtown New Egypt revitalization plan cover for same old sprawl

Real downtown and community investment needs neglected

Does this look like downtown revitalization to you?

We warned that a new sewage treatment plant would not only harm water quality in the Crosswicks Creek, but promote massive sprawl development and destruction of prime farmland, open space and community character, see:

• Sewers Create Sprawl That Will Not Save Downtown New Egypt or Improve Water Quality of Crosswicks Creek

Those warnings were ignored and back on January 8, 2016, the Christie DEP approved the permits for a new sewage treatment plant on Crosswicks Creek.

Now, Plumsted Township will hold a hearing on Tuesday June 21 at 7:30 pm on the massive development that was  the real reason for the new sewage plant, which was sold to local residents as an effort to promote downtown revitalization and replace failing cesspools and septic systems.

illegal cesspool discharges to street in downtown New Egypt – that’s a park in background

cesspool discharge flowing towards downtown New Egypt

We called bullshit on that – multiple times and for multiple reasons, including a corrupt permitting process at DEP.

Sorry, I have not been involved in the issue since January when DEP issued the permit, so I don’t have any current information or analysis to provide on the development, which I think is called “Greenbrier”.

Just posting this as a heads up and to urge folks to attend the meeting.

Here’s some more shots of downtown New Egypt to show the needs for investment and revitalization the are being neglected, while investment goes to build new sprawl (and there’s small pocket of dilapidated homes of mostly immigrant farm workers that no one is even talking about, never mind providing resources to): (all photos shot 1/1/15)

illegal discharge

stormwater discharge