Huge Victory For Local Activists – But Zero Press Coverage
Last Thursday, the NJ Highlands Council voted to reject a proposed massive new warehouse project on farmland in rural Warren County.
You can listen to the strong public testimony opposing the project and the Council’s deliberation and vote by hitting this link (discussion starts at time 42:00)
The vote was a huge victory for local activists and sets a good precedent as the first test of the Highlands Council’s highly touted new “warehouse policy”.
Frankly, I was surprised that 4 Council members – Dougherty, Dressler, Francis, and Sebetich – stood up to the political pressure and voted NO to defend the integrity of the Highlands Master Plan and the Council’s own warehouse policy. They should be thanked for having the integrity and courage to do the right thing, certainly under significant political pressure.
Shame on the 6 Council members who voted YES, particularly Council member Dan Van Abs, who surely knows better, but hid behind a sham excuse that he was merely “following the rules” and the RMP.
I was deeply troubled by Van Abs’ lame excuse and the deliberations of the Council.
Several Council members emphasized deference to “home rule” and falsely claimed that it is not the Council’s role to be the final arbiter of local land use decisions. This is particularly and egregiously wrong when it comes to designation of areas for “redevelopment” (more on that in future posts).
I wrote 3 posts criticizing the project, see:
- Highlands Council Votes Tomorrow (Thursday) On Controversial Warehouse On Rural Farmland
- NJ Highlands Council Feeling The Heat On Proposed Warehouse Approval – Cancels Scheduled September Meeting
- Pending Warehouse “Redevelopment” Approval Makes A Mockery Of The Highlands Act And The Highlands Council’s New “Warehouse Policy”
Curiously, there has been ZERO press coverage – none – despite significant Statewide coverage of the warehouse issue, favorable coverage of the Highlands Council’s new warehouse policy, and specific coverage of this particular warehouse proposal.
Similarly, the well funded NJ Highlands Coalition, who testified in opposition, has not issued any press release or public statement to praise the Council members who voted NO, recognize the work of local activists, and declare victory.
Why is that?
We delve into those questions in future posts.