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Board hears update on referendum field project: wetlands permit received, main permit still under review
Summary
Board member reported the district has received a wetlands approval for the referendum athletic-field work but the main flood-hazard permit remains under Department review with roughly 49 days on the clock and the possibility of further extensions.
The Saddle Brook Board of Education on Sept. 18 was told a wetlands approval for the district’s referendum athletic-field project has arrived, clearing one regulatory hurdle while the main flood-hazard permit remains under review.
Board member Mr Karate reported the district received wetlands paperwork “showing that the wetlands and the areas that we can't disturb are not in with the main flood hazard permit,” and said the environmental consultant viewed the news as positive. He said the Department reviewing the principal flood-hazard permit has up to 49 days to issue a decision from the current filing; the board was told that agency reviewers can request additional information late in the review period, which could extend the calendar by roughly three months.
The board discussed how wetlands and deed-recorded restrictions will shape future site work. Mr Karate said some back-portion areas will retain limits on tree cutting and disturbance and that the district will “clean up as much as we can and get it where we can use it pretty good.” He added that, once permitted and installed, a turf field could be usable continuously.
Board members asked procedural questions about the review timeline and whether the Department can extend the review; an exchange clarified that reviewers can send back requests for more information and that approvals sometimes take longer than initial estimates. No final contractor award was announced; Mr Karate said the district hopes to schedule an additional meeting to approve a bidder if the primary permit comes through before the next regular board meeting.
Why it matters: the permits determine whether the district can move forward with turf installation and related site work that will affect practice areas, fencing and community use of the grounds. The record-keeping requirement tied to environmental approvals may limit certain maintenance activities in protected areas.
What’s next: the district awaits the Department’s decision on the main flood-hazard permit; board members said they may hold a special meeting if approval arrives before the October regular meeting.
