TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The now public land once occupied by a private recreation and swim club at 464 Ridgewood Blvd. North will need environmental remediation following the discovery of asbestos, lead-based paint, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The findings, detailed in a recent pre-demolition survey report by Boswell Engineering, were shared by Mayor Peter Calamari on Oct. 16.
The survey, he said, “determined the presence of asbestos and lead-based paint. Asbestos was located in the Swim Club Building floor tile, floor tile mastic, and window/door caulk. Asbestos was also found in the Lifeguard Building/Pump House floor tile. Lead-based paint was located in the Swim Club Building and on the upper walls of the pool.”
More concerning was the discovery of PCB in the caulking around the windows, doors, and swimming pool. “Soil samples were taken from the grass area around the swimming pools for the presence of PCB,” Calamari explained. “Results were obtained yesterday, indicating that the level of PCB in the ground sample exceeded the 50 parts per million (ppm), requiring a mandatory notification to NJ DEP. Boswell Engineering made that notification, and NJ DEP sent the Township a ‘Suspected Hazardous Substance Discharge Notification.’”
Calamari emphasized that the PCB in the soil isn’t airborne and that any potential hazard would come from disturbing the contaminated ground. “The area is surrounded by two fences, secured with locks and chains,” he said. “Pre-existing ‘No Trespassing’ signs remain on the fence, and the DPW has been informed not to access the property.”
Additionally, chemicals were found in the pump house, and Calamari said it’s recommended the nearby water well be sealed if not in use.
The club was established in 1963, served generations well, then fell on hard times, selling to the town with a number of bondholders yet un-refunded. After arguing that the town must buy the land, just over 6 acres, in order to protect it from developers, in March 2023 Calamari appointed a committee to begin the process of coming up with ideas for the newly purchased property. The council approved accepting a $438,750 grant awarded to the Township from the Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, Farmland & Historic Preservation Trust Fund to help defray the $750,000 approved for the purchase of the property that February.
Now, in addressing the property’s history, Calamari noted that earlier surveys didn’t raise red flags. “Before the Township acquired the land, Lisko Environmental conducted Phase 1 and Phase 2 investigations. There was no evidence discovered in either of these investigations that suggested the presence of PCB, nor any reason to investigate further,” he said.
The news of remediation comes after the township had already shared plans for the future of the site. In June, Calamari, along with Administrator DiCarlo, Boswell Engineering’s Kevin Boswell, and Recreation Director Eamonn Twomey, held a public meeting to discuss the town’s interest in developing the property into a community space. A concept plan was introduced, supported by a letter from the Recreation Advisory Board, which emphasized maximizing passive recreational use including a “great lawn” for unstructured play and relaxation.
According to the Recreation Advisory Board’s letter, the plan “allows flexibility for young children and senior citizen activities on the great lawn, provides an alternative space for movies, concerts, and other events that preserves Memorial Field, includes a convenient dog park, and stays with the open space concept in keeping with the conditions of the grant we received to acquire the property.”
Calamari indicates the township remains committed to this vision for the site, but remediation will now be necessary before any development moves forward. “The Township will be applying for a NJ DEP grant. If awarded, the grant will cover 100% of the costs for the preliminary assessment, site investigation, and remedial investigation, and could cover up to 75% of the total remediation cost,” he said.
The extent and cost of the remediation are still unknown and will depend on further assessments. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Pascack Press has been asking about the Former Swim Club Pre-Demolition Report for some time but has yet to receive access to the document. While we have inquired multiple times with the administration, the report remains unavailable, and as a result, we are unable to independently confirm its contents or any details referenced in recent updates.
Town no stranger to environmental concerns
The development brings to mind the town’s 2022 effort to acquire the former Charlie Brown’s restaurant at 95 Linwood Ave. as a new site for the Department of Public Works. That deal ultimately fell through after an extended period of due diligence, including a land survey and environmental site assessment on the 1.45-acre triangular site, for which the town had recently approved a $1.35 million bond to purchase.
Approximately 950 tons of soil were excavated from two areas at the former Department of Municipal Facilities building, at the municipal complex, and those areas were backfilled with clean soil as part of an extensive $193,450 remediation project undertaken to solve a decades-long pollution problem at the public works facility.
Soil contamination caused by a loose fitting on a gasoline tank was noted in 1998, and soil samples collected then showed contamination levels above NJDEP soil cleanup standards.
The township was originally under a May 2021 deadline to remediate that soil contamination; that deadline was extended into mid-2022.
Since then, the DPW’s large, heavy-duty vehicles such as garbage trucks, dump trucks, front-end loaders, and other large equipment, have been sheltered at various sites, including leased space at Our Lady of Good Counsel and at the town’s newest property: the former swim club site.