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Lambertville weighs $300,000 engineering cost to pursue Music Mountain stormwater grant
Summary
Councilors discussed using prior studies to seek a large nature-based federal grant for stormwater work on Music Mountain but were told additional engineering (~$300,000) is needed to make the project shovel-ready; the council will consider bonding that study work in January.
Lambertville council members discussed a multi-phase plan to pursue federal funding for a large stormwater project on Music Mountain, but staff said additional engineering — estimated at about $300,000 — would be required to qualify the project as shovel-ready for the grant.
The council reviewed prior engineering work completed under the previous mayoral administration and said the city had used those reports to apply for multiple grants, receiving a prior federal appropriation of $450,000 for related work. A council member said the state's Nature-Based Solutions grant program requires shovel-ready projects; after consulting the city engineer the additional surveying and engineering to meet that threshold was estimated at roughly $300,000. "The number that he gave us was about $300,000," the chair said.
Why it matters: The Music Mountain area exhibits serious erosion and gullies that contribute to downstream flooding and water-quality problems; making the project shovel-ready could unlock construction funding likely to exceed $1 million, officials said, and also improve the town's standing for other funding opportunities.
Councilors discussed combining the Music Mountain engineering work with a concurrent citywide stormwater system mapping so the town understands capacity and required upgrades before approving new development. Members said preparing shovel-ready plans would also avoid losing momentum with grant processes.
Next steps: The council indicated it will consider whether to bond the engineering expense at a January meeting, invite the city engineer (Doug) to scope work, and potentially put the engineering work out to bid. No bonding commitment was made at the meeting.
