This is what Blogfinger said on Nov. 15 when we reported on that infamous and incomplete Planning Board meeting of November 13, 2019:
“What about the ground water pipe from Wesley Lake that discharges into the ocean? The new development will dump its dirty ground water into the Lake. Who has promised that the system will work and be maintained? That should be in writing.
“The developers’ engineer said that dumping that water into the ocean is “a good thing” because “you can’t flood the ocean.” He also claimed that the pipe contains a “water quality device,” but nobody knows if it actually works or how it works. Should we trust this developer to care about the environment?”
Now we have learned that the Wesley Lake Commission, particularly the Asbury Park contingent are interested in this subject. We heard from Doug McQueen, an involved and knowledgeable member of the the Commission. He has expressed his concern in writing about a “potential negative impact” which the proposed North End Plan might cause due to increased dirty ground water.
He has contacted the NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection and the Green Acres program. His information to us indicates that Jersey Shore towns, including our two towns, have been dumping ground water into their lakes for many years, and any township can give permission to a developer to do so. But, since Wesley Lake is part of Green Acres, the two towns are “encumbered” by regulations that would forbid such increased pollution without going through a complex procedure with the GA program.
Mr. McQueen is concerned that the developers and the towns might seek loopholes which would permit the OGNED North End proposed development to dirty the lake (and secondarily the ocean) even more.
It is encouraging that at least one official body is taking an interest in protecting Wesley Lake. As you all know, Wesley Lake is shared by A. Park and Neptune (the town , not the planet.). So finally, the folks on the A. Park side are appropriately worried about the lake.
We will look forward to learning more about the WLC’s efforts.
