Politics & Government

Nishuane Park Deed Does Not Preclude Water Well

Montclair will soon receive and address residents' questions/concerns and present them during a council meeting and post them online.

Nishuane Park was given to Montclair more than a 70 years ago as public land, but there are no restriction’s preventing the township from building a proposed water treatment facility on that land, officials said.

Township attorney Ira Karasick said on Tuesday there is no language in the parkland’s deed which explicitly restricts the construction of a water treatment facility in Nishuane Park near the intersection of Orange Road and High Street. 

“That deed has no language in it -- that I can see -- restricting the use of that property,” said Karasick. 

Find out what's happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nishuane Park and Cary’s Woods are divided into six lots and governed by different deeds. While parts of Cary’s Woods, given to the township in 1935, has a condition of being used as a “public park” in its deed, the site of the proposed water well, given to the township in 1940, has no such language, said Karasick. 

The township's proposal is to build a $2.6 million public water facility in a viable well in the park. The facility would be a 38- by 41-foot building with 10-foot wide access road leading onto High Street which will take up less than half an acre of the park. 

Find out what's happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The land, however, is state protected and the township is seeking approval from the state’s Green Acres Program to build on the site. 

Township to Address Residents’ Concerns

Township Manager Marc Dashield said the township will soon receive the transcripts of residents’ questions and concerns from the Green Acres hearing on Jan. 16 and the meeting on the facility’s environmental impact on Jan. 17. 

Once Montclair receives the transcripts, it will compile responses and answers to residents’ comments which will be posted on the township website and presented to the council during an upcoming meeting. 

“We think that was important feedback to get of what people’s concerns were,” said Dashield regarding the two meetings in January. “We will address those concerns ... and the council needs that information in order to make an effective decision.” 

The following links will bring you to the Montclair Patch's coverage of the previous meetings. 

Township Wants To Place New Water Well on Protected Parkland

Nishuane Well Project Gets Backlash from Vocal Residents

Residents Reject Water Well Proposed for Nishuane Park

Township Releases Docs About Nishuane Park Well Proposal


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here