Suggested Conditions For Zoning Board Review to be presented
on December 6th, 2010 at 8pm, Town Hall, West Orange, NJ. SHP must
meet these
(54?)
conditions to proceed with Phase II of their field
development.
An edited version ran in The West Orange Chronicle, December 9, 2010
One For the Team (A Coach's Pep Talk)
Let’s get ‘em Pirates!
You boys have all the skills
You’ve trained on only one
little field,
Without any of the frills
They may be bigger
But we’re not gonna’ hide
They may be old and strong
(And have God on their side)
But you’ve got the Zoning
Board!
You’ve got the mayor, too!
You’ve got mommy and daddy’s money
So don’t let ‘em screw you
What neighbors, what residents?
Public safety? Boo hoo!
They’re just the community
Not the Pirates: “Woo Hoo!”
I’ll teach you one thing
That team sports is best
And if you’re on my team
Well then, you’re better than that forest
So let’s get out there,
Pirates!
We’ve got Gatorade and gas
Grab your helmets & chainsaws!
Lets kick some forest ass!
-Loren Svetvilas
In memory of the McClellan Old Growth Forest
Thursday evening the West Orange Zoning Board voted unanimously to approve Seton Hall Preparatory School's application to destroy the McClellan Old Growth Forest along Prospect Avenue, so that the private school can expand their current sports fields into a 45-acre sports complex. (Over sixty resolutions must be agreed to by Seton Hall Prep before the board "officially" approves their application, on December 16th.)
As the backslapping and handshakes were exchanged at the close of the hearing by Seton Hall Prep faculty and trustees, I couldn't help but wonder who actually came out ahead in this million dollar, multi-year battle to save the forest. The objectors lost their case, the zoning board lost respect, Seton Hall Prep lost their integrity, and the residents of West Orange have lost yet another open space. As Chairman Neuer so eloquently stated, "Development, redevelopment - that's progress." Is this what West Orange has become? A home to development? So now how do we as a town live up to our status as, "Tree City, U.S.A!"
The West Orange Zoning Board members have each spoken: Sports trumps the environment. Sports trumps public safety. Sports trumps the quality of life for residents. Sports trumps noise and air quality. Sports trumps residential flooding. Sports is of more value than our own community at large.
Seton Hall Prep may consistently win on the sports field, but they have shown their true colors off the field.
-Loren Svetvilas
I read with great interest a letter to Freethought Today (May 2010) written by Loren Svetvilas about the Seton Hall property. I commend her for her dedication to the old growth forest & its animal & plant inhabitants across the street from her home. In geologic time scales, I’m sure that in relatively recent times, the property where her home sits was part of this same forest.
Perhaps she could tear down her own home & start a campaign to convince her neighbors to do the same. They could then plant saplings, thereby expanding the wild native habitat. Two-hundred years from now, those saplings would then be old growth, restoring the forest from its previously unnatural suburban state. If enough residents moved out, even the roads that slice through the area like open wounds could be given back to the plant & animal life for their betterment.
By selflessly giving up their property rights, Ms. Svetvilas & others that followed her example, would certainly earn the moral authority to advocate the prep school do the same. Any cries of hypocrisy would be extinguished. My hope is they carry on their campaign & even expand it to include surrounding parcels. Let their self-sacrifice be an inspiration to Seton Hall.
Respectfully,
A Lover of Nature [Clint Stevenson]
 Maywood Estate (ca. early 1930's ), as it once stood on the SHP property. The home has since been destroyed, but foundation and artifacts are believed to still be located beneath the ground cover. This was the residence General George B. McClellan, who ran for president against Abraham Lincoln in 1864 on an anti-war platform, and later became NJ's 24th Governor. Ironically, his picture is mounted overlooking the very Zoning Board who will decide the fate of his former estate's.      From Left to Right: Indiana Bat, Great Horned Owl, Bald Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, Red Fox Welcome! And thank you for visiting our site. We are now one step closer to achieving our goal by having you here.
Please sign our petition now! The Zoning Board has refused to accept our three petitions, but we are still collecting support for this forest through signatures. Join us for the VOTE at Town Hall:
Monday: November 8th 8pm West Orange Town Hall, 66 Main St., West Orange, NJ 07052
Public Comment has ended, but it's not over!
Please join us on the date & time above, and show your support. If SHP's plan is approved, the trees could start falling as soon as the Zoning Board votes in November!!!
The Latest: On October 4th, West Orange residents were and disappointed by their very own public advocate, Harvey Grossman. Mr. Grossman testified in front of the Zoning Board that he fully supports SHP's application, and hopes that the ZB approves the application. We also heard from the attorney for the objectors, Mr. Herb Waldman, who laid out a beautiful summary of why indeed this application should NOT be approved. Mr. Gerry Carp also spoke, representing himself and his wife, who are asking that this plan be re-visited so as to protect their home from additional noises associated with a sports complex. The attorney for SHP closed the evening with his rational for why the proposal should be approved. He stated that SHP needs the fields, that SHP has 'bent over backwards' to meet the objector's wishes, and that they have saved trees under the new plan. He also claims that the 44-acre athletic complex will not impact the neighborhood negatively, nor will it negatively impact property values. The ZB is officially deliberating until November 8th, when they will share their opinions with the public, and cast their votes. For the sake of West Orange and its residents, we can only hope that they vote this application down. With one of the strictest tree ordinances in NJ, its time that West Orange show respect for the laws of this municipality, and the laws of nature. On May 23, the objectors submitted their historical report in preparation for the June 3 hearing. The report states that the gardens circa 1920-1929, were designed by the Olmsted Brothers, who designed the South Mountain Reservation. Their father, Frederick Law Olmsted is considered the father of American landscape architecture. We now believe the McClellan Old Growth Forest site deserves placement on the National Register of Historic Places. On May 27th, objectors’ attorney Herb Waldman was walking the site with an expert from the Olmsted Foundation. They discovered construction equipment and two specimen trees, 90 year old Japanese Yews dead on the ground. Herb rushed town officials including the Zoning Officer to the site, where Seton Hall Prep Assistant Headmaster Gallo shrugged off the event. SHP had been digging test pits which could have been dug anywhere, and deliberately cut down the historic trees. No we have learned that have dug an additional test pit resulting in knocking down a historic gate by use of a back hoe. Make no mistake, this is a violation both of town ordinances and common decency. It is a crime against civility, against due process, against history, and against the environment. Seton Hall Prep Administrators have lied and cheated their way thru this entire process. They will not win. They continue to keep losing what is most important, reputation and integrity. Of that, they have none. On September 1st, town residents spoke in favor of this forest, in favor of their home values, in favor of their neighborhood environment, in favor of the historical importance of this property, and in favor of the safety of residents. (The Zoning Board was quick to quell any comments it didn't want to hear, despite this being a PUBLIC comment period!) How many people came out to speak in favor of Seton Hall Prep's plans, you may be wondering? Zero. Could this be because they know the Zoning Board is on their side, already??? This is an unfortunate picture painted by a Zoning Board who continually asks softball questions, and thwarts testimony of the objector's witnesses. What's all the fuss about?
1994: Seton Hall Prep illegally cuts trees within The McClellan Old Growth Forest, located along Propsect Avenue; is fined
1999: SHP clear-cuts & develops 20 acres without an environmental impact statement
2006: Seton Hall Prep illegally develops without permits or plans
2006: Seton Hall Prep illegally cuts 300 year-old White Oak tree
2006: Seton Hall Prep illegally dumps contaminated fill (Judge refuses to fine SHP)
1999 to date: SHP discharges storm water. Causes severe erosion, floods neighborhoods
2009: SHP decides not to protect the natural habitat of the Indiana Bat, an endangered species
2009: West Orange Planning Board & Zoning Boards ignore SHP lapses, fails to protect residents
In addition, SHP constructed a shot put ring without a permit, and constructed a road using illegal asphalt millings as fill (at night while no one was watching).
And now what?
Seton Hall Prep is demanding to clear-cut 1,000 MORE trees, totaling an additional 17-acres! What was once a 44-acre Old Growth Forest will be leveled to a 5 acre strip of trees to serve as a "buffer zone" between homes and playing fields. (Which could be cleared in the future.)
 Roughly half of the developed fields on the above map is what SHP has planned. The three lacrosse/football fields on the left are already present, and were part of Phase 1.
The baseball fields and the parking lot between them are a part of Phase 2.
Note that the remaining forested land on right is still open for development in the future, possible becoming Phase 3. SHP will NOT put a permanent easement on the remianing 5-acres. As one witness speculated, this could become a dormitory for SHP students in the future. (Please email the address in the sidebar for a more detailed map.)
Source: Seton Hall Prep Landscape Plan Exhibit , Charles Stewart
 Tree supporters make their voices heard
(and seen) at Town Hall.
 Two W.O. school children collect $23 to save the
McClellan Old Growth Forest !!!
 Join the St. Cloud Neighborhood Alliance
by showing your Green Ribbon in
support of the Trees! It's Free!
(Email in sidebar) |  Monsignor Kelly Teaching SHP Lessons (Bye Bye History, Bye Bye Environment, Bye Bye Residential Tranquility, Bye Bye Animals, Bye Bye Integrity, Bye Bye Home Values, Bye Bye Air Quality, Bye Bye God's creation.) (ca. November 2010?) Why? What they have is not enough. Currently they have 20-acres of football fields, one lacrosse field, one parking lot, one 1/4-miletrack, a storage facility, property fencing, asphalt, and an illegal shot put ring. (And more...) They also have the use of West Orange sports fields, such as Stagg & Colgate Fields. Here's what Msgr. Michael Kelly and Seton Hall Prep are telling West Orange The Prep needs:
What's at stake?
Besides the added noise pollution, the added traffic along Prospect Avenue, and the safety of Seton Hall Prep students who walk along a county road with no sidewalk, there is the environment!
What do our leaders have to say?
Senator Richard Codey:
Nothing (Too political? Alumni?)
W. O. Mayor John F. McKeon:
Nothing (Pro-development)
Assemblyman Sal Anderton:
Nothing (It's private property)
County Executive DiVincenzo:
Nothing (Let's build an African-theme mini golf center!)
SHP Headmaster Msgr. Michael Kelly:
Nothing (Names destroyed forest after his parents)
NJDEP Commissioner Mark Mauriello on illegal fill:
Nothing (But why???)
James Goodness, Archdiocese of Newark:
SHP needs the fields (Bye bye, God's Creation...)
Rev. Richard G. Francesco, St. Joe's Church, West Orange:
Sports fields will bett er society (But an Old Growth Forest won't?)
West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi (as councilman):
Cannot comment (Although he could) (Too controversial?)
Councilwoman Susan McCartney:
Beating around the bush (Although she was player in the 1st phase of destruction...) What do you have to say?   Japanese Yews After SHP illegally uproots them in 2010.  Moreau Delano lived in Maywood. His father, and aunt and uncle founded St. Cloud Presbyterian Church.    Pelican Gate once stood as an elegant entrance at one side of Maywood. As recently as May or June of this year, SHP used a back hoe to knock this historical gate down to dig a "test pit". Where is the outcry? Perhaps you will join the loud voices speaking out?   |