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Residents packed the Somerset County Commissioner meeting after Bridgewater Township claimed hundreds of trees were cut down from the park. BRIDGEWATER, NJ — It was a packed house with residents across Somerset County addressing the Commissioners about the Washington Valley Park access road project, where Bridgewater Township claims hundreds of trees were cut down. Somerset County Senior Engineer Matt Loper gave a presentation on Tuesday, breaking down the planning, permitting, and communication leading up to the construction of an access road between Vosseller Avenue and the Hawk Watch/White Rock area. "To construct this project it took many steps, planning all the way back to 1997 to 2005, mitigation for Miller Lane, we looked at concepts, we communicated, we coordinated, we started design, we did construction. We did all of the things, in that, we did our due diligence, our permitting. We looked at wetlands, stormwater, hydrology, utilities, and here we are tonight," said Loper at the Somerset County Commissioner meeting. "Somerset County took all reasonable and necessary steps to deliver this project in the most cost-effective, cost-efficient way to deliver a great enhancement to one of our most valuable assets, Washington Valley Park," said Loper. The County-owned park consists of 719 acres along the Watchung Ridge in Bridgewater, including a 21-acre reservoir and seven miles of trails known for mountain biking and a hawk watch. Loper said the project dates back 28 years to 1997, when the County included it in its Master Plan for improvements. Those improvements were reiterated in 2005 in the County's Capital Facilities Plan. "For years, it has been a complaint from private residents and officials about speeding, vehicle accidents, and the amount of traffic using the park utilizing this narrow roadway which is unsuitable," said Loper of Miller Lane. In 2013, the County added speed bumps to the roadway and then a gate in 2018 to try and mitigate issues on the semi-private road where seven Bridgewater homes are located. In 2020, the County acquired 13 acres, which is where they planned to put a new access road to the park. In 2023, the County acquired another 1.4 acres called the Patullo parcel which has "incredible significance to Somerset County," said Loper. The property is believe to be the location where George Washington looked down from onto the Middlebrook encampment. It was at this point, Somerset County began to move forward with the access road. In 2023, the County issued a project to construct a new entrance driveway for the east end of Washington Valley Park to replace the Miller Lane access point. The total project area for the access road is a total of 2.14 acres, "that is less than one-third of one percent of the park size," said Loper. Loper provided a timeline of events leading up to the construction beginning in October: Nov. 9, 2023: Design contract awarded, which included field survey, stormwater management design, cultural resource survey, geotechnical permit, civil design, construction plan preparation, and bidding March 19, 2024: Due diligence report was conducted to determine the presence of wetlands. Findings found the project area contained uplands and was outside of a regulated floodplain Jan. 2, 2025: State Historic Preservation Office(SHPO) approval was granted for construction Jan. 16, 2025: Coordination letter from County Administrator Colleen Mahr to Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench, stating, "The proposed access road alignment will follow an existing easement containing a water main to minimize tree clearing and allow maintenance access for the water company to their water line." Feb. 11, 2025: County resolution approving plans and authorizing bid. March 20, 2025: Stormwater report conducted which found, "No stormwater runoff increases occur at any design points for the current and future two, 10, and 100 year storm events. The proposed current flows have been reduced for the two, 10, and 100-year storm frequencies." Aug. 12, 2025: Somerset Union Social Conservation District Permit approval, which was sent to the county along with the Bridgewater Township construction official, Municipal Planning Board, and Municipal Engineer Sept. 9, 2025: NJDEP issues stormwater construction general permit Sept. 24, 2025: A preconstruction meeting was held with Somerset County, County Park Commission, and Bridgewater Township officials Sept. 30, 2025: Letter sent to Miller Lane residents and forwarded to the township Oct. 23, 2025: The NJDEP Bureau of Coastal and Land Use Compliance and Enforcement conducted a site visit of the property. "It found the project is not in a floodplain and no freshwater wetlands are impacted and therefore no land use permits from the DEP or any federal agency were required." Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench spoke during the meeting, stating concerns over the amount of trees removed and floodwater impacts. "When you look at the diagram, which is consistent to the letter we received in January," said Moench. "What is missing is any discussion anywhere of the scope of the tree removal that is there. The plan says 34 trees and I've heard residents say it's only big trees. No it's broken down by size of tree." Moench said the Township Engineer did reach out to the County with concerns of tree removal when they only believed it was 34 trees and a concern about sight distance for the new entrance on Vosseller Avenue. "The response back was, 'We are not replanting trees and not concerned with sight distance'," said Moench of Somerset County. "And that was with 34 trees, so when you go out there and see clear-cutting of two acres of property, that if that was shown in anything that our officials have seen, it was not apparent that what is occurring on that site is representative in those diagrams," said Moench. Somerset County Counsel Joseph DeMarco told Moench that in the bid spec, there was another line item addressing trees. "It's called site clearing. And in that when you read it, it says all trees and everything will be removed. There are separate items for the 34 trees, so there are two separate distinctions in there," said DeMarco Moench also noted his concern for the removal of the trees due to flooding in the area. In November 2021, the Township spent about $1 million to rebuild the embankment along the side of Vosseller after Hurricane Ida. "What mitigation is or is it needed to be able to ensure that with the new conditions on that site our residents are not at risk because of increased flooding?" said Moench. "The county should commit to replacing those trees on site or offsite, to replace what has been destroyed and ensure that our residents can be confident that the runoff from that site is not going to impact our community in that area." DeMarco also shared that stormwater management is actually improved by the access road. "It is contrary to common belief that a road will actually handle water better than a forest. But the science and stormwater report says it will," said DeMarco, who noted the new road is more porous for when it rains, to go through the pavement. Additionally, there is stone and a drainage system being put in place under the road. “We've improved, I know it sounds crazy, trees should absorb water better than roads, and nor do I advocate paving everything for this purpose, but it does do that job right," said DeMarco. Somerset County Commissioner Shanel Robinson also reminded Moench that the Township knows how to reach them and that they "do not govern through Facebook,"alluding to the Township's social media messages about the topic. "I think we have done our due diligence and thank you in making sure the steps along the way we were engaging those stakeholders that needed to be engaged," said Robinson. Many residents in Somerset County also spoke during the meeting, either criticizing the county or criticizing Bridgewater Township. Bridgewater resident Stacey Friedlander also pointed to the Township's "misinformation" being shared on its Facebook page. "For me this isn’t just about road, it’s about trust, facts, and responsible leadership. When misinformation spreads we lose faith in our local government so I hope both the County and the Township can move forward with transparency, cooperation and respect. Not just for the environment but for truth," said Friedlander. Bridgewater resident Cathy Franco also criticized Bridgewater's response. "I am most upset with my Township government because if they had an issue they had since January to ask questions. They had a virtual meeting with your engineers. If there were questions or concerns, that’s what we pay our Township officials for. To bring them up in a timely manner," said Franco. Bridgewater Councilman Michael Kirsh defended the Township saying, "anyone who implies that Bridgewater government, its elected officials, its employees, its planning board, its zoning board, or anybody else are not good stewards of our land and our assets is creating a false narrative." Many residents, including Council Vice President Filipe Pedroso, claimed Somerset County did a "poor job" in conveying the amount of trees to be removed. "The fact that we are here after 300 to 500 trees in Bridgewater, which is devastated, like just cut down. The fact that we are here in a packed room being presented a presentation for the first time goes to show us how, in this particular case, that government did not work, or it worked poorly," said Pedroso. James Llewellyn of Bridgewater said, "If in the report, it says 34 trees, and I know what you said, Mr. DeMarco, there is a broad brush over here that says we are going to clear-cut. But if they had put in that says we are going to remove 350 to 500 trees, would that have raised a flag with DEP? And would there have been some type of mitigation?" Bridgewater Township Administrator and former Somerset County Commissioner said officials also shared his thoughts on the tree removal. "I can't emphasize how upset many people are about the number of trees. There's been many comments about the January letter, comments about the virtual meeting, a September meeting. But at no time, no time, did any member of our staff who participated at any of these meetings were told that they would be any more than 34, 37 trees. That never occurred. I think that's a legitimate criticism of the lack of communication," said Pappas. Zoning Board of Adjustment Chairman Jeff Foose said after the meeting that there was no discussion on on the missing trees or any plans to replant them. "This situation echoes a profound loss. Key questions remain unanswered — chief among them, how the initial plan for removing 34 trees ballooned to over 300. The commissioners hold a sacred trust to manage our lands with wisdom and to safeguard vital habitats," said Foose. "This project, situated just uphill from where a motorist tragically lost their life during Hurricane Ida, represents an alarming insensitivity to the flooding risks these trees once helped mitigate. Moving forward, I urge the county to embrace transparent public processes, such as land use review boards, to better communicate project impacts and foster true collaboration with our communities." Lawsuit The Township filed a lawsuit on Oct. 16 and an injunction against Somerset County after construction began at the park. Additionally, Bridgewater filed a complaint and Order to Show Cause, seeking temporary restraints against Somerset County and the County's Park Commission to stop further construction. However, this was denied by Somerset County Superior Court Judge Haekyoung Suh on Oct. 19. Following the denial, the Township launched a petition, which was presented to the Somerset County Commissioners on Tuesday.
