HomeMy Public PortalAboutr 13-212�ego1u #tou of
No. 13_21?
Date of Adoptio u
OBJECTING TO COtNRAIL TRACK E,YPANSION
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council were recently notified of the proposed expansion of
the railroad track infrastructure by Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) and that they
are seeking approval from the NJDEP to expand their track within a freshwater wetlands
transition area; and -
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret strongly object to this
expansion as it is a quality of life issue for the adjacent families and the apparent
deficiencies of the plan regarding environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS, the railway expansion is proposed adjacent to approximately 45 residences
along Jackson Avenue, some of which have minimal backyards that abut the Conrail's
right -of -way; and
WHEREAS, it appears the change in land cover from vegetated to stone would require
Conrail to address stormwater management, in that the work entails the placement of over
one - quarter acre of new impervious. This is also important to the adjacent homeowners
because the area is subject to flooding; and
WHEREAS, based on the application sent to the Borough Clerk, the site or its immediate
vicinity is located within observed breeding habitat of the State Threatened Pie - billed
Grebe, and would be within the wetland buffer; and
WHEREAS, the railroad right -of -way is located within the Perth Amboy and Elizabeth
Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, which has been identified as a historic
resource by the State Historic Preservation Office; and
WHEREAS, the alternative analysis provided id deficient, because it does not explore
the possibility of locating the expansion out of the Borough of Carteret and away from
existing home sites;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Carteret do hereby strongly object to Conmil's application for the track expansion
project and urge the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection not to approve
"Conrail - Chemical Coast, Port Reading Track Extension Project.
Adopted this 2l "day of November, 2013
and certified as a true copy of the
original on November 22, 2013.
KATTILEEN NI. BARNEY, N2,1C
Nfunicipal Clerk
RECORD OF COUNCIL VOTE
PIILIi�D x 10<LF, I X I �
DIAZ X naw [ X
DI rteito I I I L II SITAR I I I I x I
II X - Indicate Vote AB - Absent NV - Not Voting XOR- Indicates Vote to Overrule Veto
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Adopted at a meeting of the Municipal Council