Diamond Chip Realty

By SRD Current Threats 2022-01-01

Diamond Chip Realty "Warehouse"

Concern spurred from a November 2021 application by Diamond Chip Realty (DCR) to build two giant warehouses totaling 880,480 square feet, comprising a lot area of 2.9 million square feet, 185 truck bays, 45 feet high, 307 parking spaces and 119 banked parking spaces at 33 Demarest Road in Sparta.
DCR applied as a “warehouse”, a permitted use under Sparta’s Municipal Land code despite: (1) describing itself as a "logistics park" and multi-modal industrial park; (2) being many multiples larger than the largest warehouse currently in the same Economic Development zone; and (3) involving the temporary storage of motor freight vehicles and cargo and the transfer of freight between trucks and rail facilities.
The property is located in an environmentally sensitive area within the New Jersey Highlands and affects the Germany flats aquifer, which is currently operating at a deficit due to existing demand from local wells.
The property is also adjacent to Sparta Junction and has access to the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad.
At Diamond Chip's request, Sparta Town Council passed an ordinance in February 2021 that amended certain provisions of Sparta'sEconomic Development zone and ushered in Diamond Chip's site plan application in November 2021 along with the possibility of future developments of similar scale and scope.

RE: Ordinance Change:
“...that was the reason for adopting the ordinance amendment to the ED Zone, to permit this project...and we are fully consistent with this ordinance...”
Applicant's Lawyer, March 2, 2022 Sparta Planning Board meeting
(listen here)

RE: Truck/Train Transfer Station to be built (Town Council Official Minutes)
“Vivian Perlmutter addressed council pertaining to the truck/train transfer station to be built and the effect that it would have on Rt. 15 which is a two lane road.

She stated that this would impact existing businesses with the additional trucking.

She stated that she knows that the town wants ratables to bring money into the town.

She also stated that it is being built by the aquifer which could affect water quality”

Vivian Perlmutter, Sparta Taxpayer, February 22, 2022 Sparta Town Council meeting
February 22, 2022 Town Council Meeting Minutes

RE: Ordinance Change:
“little commonsense changes that would help the business community and the taxpayer of Sparta”
Councilmember Josh Hertzberg, February 23, 2021 (during Sparta Township Council meeting)

RE: Ordinance Change:
“We made the ordinance changes without the right information, and nobody has given us a single good reason this project should go forward. There is not one member of the community I know who supports it. Nobody wants this to go forward except the developer...”
Councilmember Molly Whilesmith, June 2022

880,480 square foot warehouse with 24-hour operations and 1,400 daily truck trips.

Long-term Cost to stakeholders

· Ratables are finite and may provide short-term benefits.

· Long-term air quality, water quality, noise, quality of life will be irrevocable and will adversely impact the surrounding areas.

· Offsite costs will be borne by taxpayers. Applicant will not be responsible for road maintenance increases, fire/police infrastructure needs (so tax burden will increase as a direct result of this project).

A "Warehouse"

· 34 times larger than the largest warehouse in Sparta

· Larger than Rockaway Mall + Sparta High School. Combined.

Industrial Buildings, such as warehouses, a bigger threat to stormwater quality

Researchers have long known that industrial buildings, such as warehouses, likely pose a bigger threat to stormwater quality than other development. A new Virginia Tech study offers fresh evidence of that problem. (find out more)

News

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