Saddle River Housing Drama: Drainage Crisis and Hidden Lots Threaten $Toll Brothers’ Luxury-Affordable Complex
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
SADDLE RIVER, NJ – The contentious proposal for the Algonquin Trail affordable housing complex in Saddle River, spearheaded by Toll Brothers, faced another grueling session before the Planning Board on October 7, with drainage and stormwater management dominating the debate.
The revised plans revealed a critical shift: Toll Brothers’ off-site rainwater detention area has been moved to a narrow 0.15-acre lot at 166 W. Saddle River Road. This change was necessitated after Bergen County refused access to an existing, already-over-capacity drainage pipe on West Saddle River Road, which has been the source of “calls and complaints” from area residents for years.
The Stormwater Struggle: New Detention Site Raises Alarm
Applicant engineer Michael Dipple attempted to reassure the board, arguing the new system “improves the situation” by reducing the rate of water flow and, consequently, the risk of flooding.
However, Borough Engineer Martin Spence raised a significant legal and environmental concern, questioning the plan’s proposed “trespass with new discharge” that would send runoff downhill onto private homes between West and East Saddle River roads. The high volume and velocity of the water were also questioned by resident Ron Orgen, whose property sits just north of the new drainage site.
Mayor Albert Kurpis suggested an expensive alternative: running a new drainage pipe 0.2 miles to the Rindlaub Park property, where water would gradually discharge into the Saddle River tributaries. While the developer’s attorney, Andy Del Vecchio, expressed a willingness to “revisit” the issue, the existing drainage challenge remains a major sticking point for the 48-unit complex.
Zoning and Segregation: The Affordable Housing Debate
The 48-unit complex, which includes 12 for-sale affordable units, also faced renewed scrutiny over its design. Architect Steve Tietke detailed the unit sizes:
- Market-Rate Units (Buildings 1-9): 2,960 to 3,160 square feet.
- Affordable Units (12 total): Ranging from 1,035 to 1,385 square feet.
A resident brought up the recent December 2024 amendments to the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls, which require intermingling of affordable and market-rate units. Both the developer’s and borough’s attorneys swiftly stated the new rule does not apply to this specific project. They cited an April 2023 “judgment of compliance” that predates the updated regulations, classifying the Algonquin project as a Third-Round affordable housing case, exempt from the new intermingling mandate.
Traffic and Parking: Experts vs. Residents
Traffic was another flashpoint. Traffic engineer Charles Olivo confirmed that parking was adequate, with nearly all market-rate and most affordable units having garages plus driveways for a second car, supplemented by 21 guest spots.
His comment that residents of such complexes “are not having large parties” when asked about overflow parking drew attention. Olivo also stated he was not required to assess the traffic impact on the busy intersection 0.2 miles away, arguing “These developments do not have significant impact… They do not generate a lot of traffic volume.”
Despite the expert assurances, resident concerns over safety and congestion remain critical. The developer also confirmed a change in access, making the complex’s entry solely from West Saddle River Road.
The hearing was adjourned, with the board slated to reconvene on November 3 and December 2 to continue tackling the complex engineering, zoning, and community impact issues of this high-profile development.
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It’s terrible that people are increasingly forced to spend time and money fighting this. Unfair and wrong.