TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Two consultants hired to perform due diligence studies on the township’s planned $800,000 purchase of the 6.5-acre Washington Township Swim and Recreation Club will be paid a combined $15,150 for the land survey and environmental site assessment recently approved by the Township Council.
We received copies of proposals from Azzolina & Feury Engineering, Paramus, for $9,250 and from Lisko Environmental Services, Belmar, for $5,900. The resolutions that were approved Feb. 22 hiring the consultants did not list costs.
Following completion of the studies, said likely by April or May, the Township may have the information to allow for more negotiations during the final property purchase closing.
Meanwhile, the Township has two other property offers pending: one on 95 Linwood Ave. (for $1.3 million) and one for 450 Pascack Road (for $430,000) for a 3.2-acre mostly wooded parcel that adjoins Memorial Field and George Washington Elementary School.
Without discussion on Feb. 7, the council approved a nearly $792,000, 40-year bond to purchase the swim club after negotiations with the original winning bidder broke down last summer.
According to the $800,000 bond ordinance, the bonds include $761,900 in principal and $38,100 as a bond down payment. The swim club purchase price is listed at $750,000. No estimates on annual costs to taxpayers have yet been made available.
Resolution 22-180 hired Azzolina & Feury to provide surveying and related services for 464 Ridgewood Boulevard North, or the swim club. The $9,250 proposal includes five outputs including: an ALTA/NSPS land title survey in accordance with the minimum standard detail requirements for ALTA/NSPS land title surveys (effective Feb. 23, 2021).
In addition, the contract calls for an ALTA survey with 10 optional items selected, such as: flood zone classification, evidence of underground utilities, evidence or recent earth moving or construction, and changes in street right-of-way lines.
“An ALTA survey is a detailed land parcel map showing all existing improvements of the property, utilities and significant observations with the insured estate. It includes the licensed surveyor’s findings concerning the property’s boundaries and how they relate to the title,” an online resource says.
The survey will also obtain maps and deeds of record, run field traverse locating all physical boundary line information, structures, fences, decks, etc. Moreover, the survey will review the title report (provided by the client) and analyze field information and maps of record and establish outside boundaries of the property.
The survey proposal includes a “fee schedule for engineering services” that lists the following: Surveyor ($70 per hour); Project Engineer ($88 per hour); Engineering Technician ($90 per hour); CAD Technician ($95 per hour); Survey Analyst ($97 per hour); Project Coordinator ($105 per hour); Assistant Engineer ($110 per hour); Professional Engineer ($115 per hour); Chief Engineer ($125 per hour); and Principal ($130 per hour).
“It shall be understood that if any extraordinary work is required that cannot be foreseen at this time (i.e. major revisions required by the Township/Client) the same shall be billed on an hourly basis as an extra, in accordance with the attached fee schedule,” states the proposal, signed by James P. Azzolina III, project manager.
The Azzolina and Feury proposal does not include a timeline for completion.
Environmental Assessment: $5,900
Lisko Environmental LLC’s $5,900 proposal is for a phase I environmental site assessment and land use assessment. The phase I environmental assessment costs $3,150 and the accompanying land use assessment costs $2,750.
The Phase I environmental site assessment will be based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards and practices for all appropriate inquiries, notes the proposal.
The land use assessment “will be conducted to review and determine potential impacts from freshwater wetlands at the subject property if they are present,” states the proposal. It also notes it will determine onsite land use constraints, which may include flood hazard areas, CAFRA regulations, and threatened/endangered species laws.
The Lisko proposal notes the environmental and land use assessments should be completed in approximately 28 days.
The phase I environmental assessment scope of work includes a records review of federal and state databases, the property’s historical uses, site reconnaissance including buildings’ inspection, asbestos contamination, hazardous substances use, and general descriptions of structures.
Also, the assessments include interviews with owners, occupants and local government officials about the property’s current and historical uses.
For its land use assessment, Lisko will review available mapping, freshwater wetlands maps, DEP landscape project maps, aerial photographs, tax maps, and Federal Emergency Management Agency and county Soil Conservation District maps.
Lisko will conduct a site walk-through to take pictures, collect soil borings, and conduct a habitat assessment. Moreover, public records requests will be made of DEP to request any previous permit applications made related to the property. These generally take 4–6 weeks for processing, said the proposal.
In addition, Lisko will prepare an initial drainage area review if any regulated water bodies are found nearby, and after regulatory review, mapping and field activities are complete, Lisko will prepare a summary letter report, states the proposal.