Ronald Marotta

Chairman
Cranford Zoning Board

Dear Mr. Marotta and Cranford Zoning Board:

As you may recall I served as Mayor of Cranford during the difficult
challenge Cranford faced during Irene. Since then I have remained active
as Chair of our communitys Flood Advisory Board and coordinating the
important activities of the Mayors Council Rahway River Watershed Flood
Control. I have done so because I believe Cranford still faces a threat
which if not mitigated will be upon us again and maybe soon.
During the Irene Hurricane I stood with many neighbors on North Avenue
and watched with amazement the swelling and raging river that took with it
almost $50 million of damages to property including making much of
Cranfords municipal building unusable. Right there at Forest the river
found its way into homes and through businesses downtown.
While we have rebuilt and no one can question Cranford is not a great
community getting even better. The constant threat remains. So when
these development projects come up some who want to do things as usual
try to convince policymakers that they can overbuild or develop without
consequence. Even our engineers opine often that if certain actions are
taken, which state law provides guidance on, that well we have done our
part to manage storm water.
But unfortunately until we can manage the river during peak storms, adding
any more runoff is just not something in the communitys best interests.
For example, accepting the professional opinion of civil engineers who are
convincing us that detention pits will hold back runoff really have no clue
what happens on Forest during a major storm. The past storms are
evidence that we have gotten it wrong. The timing doesnt work. For that
matter we have gotten this wrong in other applications approved by both
planning and zoning boards for other vulnerable areas in the community.

My comments are not to be critical of our boards. Only to ask that we cant
look at storm water management like other communities. We have a
problem.
We are at the door of a potential significant solution through the work with
the US Army Corps of Engineers, but that solution will require federal
funding which we are fighting for but you know what we are faced with in
that endeavor.
So from my perspective, while I respect the nice church and its community
at the corner of Forest and North Avenue, I urge that the parking lot
expansion be denied. I urge the prayers that can be mustered that a
community solution can get in place sooner than later.
Finally, I cannot be present at the zoning board hearings on this given a
business travel commitment I have. If I did come I would bring the photos
of the church and of Forest under muddy water from a river that couldnt
stay in its banks.
Even an inch more storm water. If you saw the water line at the municipal
building we only needed an inch of protection then.
I respectfully submit this to you and also recognize the tough job you all do.
Sincerely,
Dan Aschenbach
Former Cranford Mayor
Resident 116 Cranford Avenue