EMERSON — An engineer for a proposed 122-unit assisted living facility at the former Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center site told the Land Use Board the project would reduce stormwater runoff through porous parking pavement and two bioretention ponds designed to retain and infiltrate runoff.
At the Jan. 22 hearing, Daniel LaMothe of Lapatka Associates testified the applicant would also install a 42-inch storm drain pipe—larger than existing pipes—beginning near Broad Street by Samuel Street, running along the property’s south side, under the Main Street parking lot, and tying into a 36-inch pipe as it crosses Main Street.
Board members and residents questioned how runoff volume and velocity could affect a stream that flows toward a recreational field near Emerson Junior-Senior High School, as well as the project footprint appearing to shift closer to Broad Street homes. Board planner Caroline Reiter also disputed the applicant’s references to conditional-use standards for nursing homes, saying she had not heard testimony that those standards apply to an assisted living facility.
LaMothe said a prior NJDEP stormwater permit was issued for an unbuilt 2020 proposal and that the current plan has been updated to meet current NJDEP standards. He said most of the project’s 63 parking spaces would use porous pavement that allows runoff and snowmelt to infiltrate over time and recharge groundwater.
LaMothe prepared a Stormwater Management Maintenance Plan dated March 24, 2025 for the Armenian Home for the Aged Inc. proposal. Viva Senior Living of New York City would run day-to-day operations; the developer was not identified.
Residents also raised concerns about porous pavement maintenance and potential spillover parking, flooding on Broad Street, an alleged high water table, trash pickup and screening, noise, project notice, and imported soil. LaMothe said about 2,000 cubic yards of soil would be needed—about 130 to 140 truck trips at roughly 15 cubic yards per truck—and said a geotechnical engineer would design a foundation system to address site conditions. Asked about flooding events in the Main Street area in September 2023 or 2024, LaMothe said he was not aware of prior floods.
Questions were also raised about fire truck access. The applicant said the Fire Department had not yet provided comments; attorney Brian Chewcaskie said the police had responded and the applicant had again requested Fire Department input.
The next hearing is Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m., with testimony expected from a traffic expert and recalled testimony from the architect, chief operations officer, chief clinical officer, and possibly an Armenian Home for the Aged Inc. representative, the applicant’s attorney said.
The board does not broadcast meetings on community TV, YouTube, or Zoom. Meetings are in-person only. Audio recordings of meetings are posted on the board’s website. Emerson’s Borough Council livestreams meetings and archives videos on its page.