Township officials say developer met requirementsA developer’s plans to use explosives to blast through rock to excavate the foundation on two lots in the Golden Crest subdivision, off Federal City Road, has drawn concern from neighbors.
By: Lea Kahn
However, township officials said the developer met all of the requirements for a blasting permit, which has been issued to the Blue Bell, Pa., company that will detonate the explosives.
The blasting is expected to take place Monday, weather permitting, said township Acting Fire Marshal Dale Robbins. The company that is detonating the explosives should complete the work by Wednesday.
Developer Ugur Kaytmaz of Elliott Associates, which is developing the subdivision, said blasting is necessary to remove rock underneath the surface on two lots. The developer is based in Hamilton Township.
Workmen began to dig for the foundation, and discovered rock in the area of the basements for two houses, Mr. Kaytmaz said. Machinery was used to break up some of the shale, but blasting is necessary to break up the rest of it, he said.
"This rock is too big," he said. "We don’t like to have to spend money on blasting, but there is no choice. We looked at other possibilities to deal with that rock, but there was nothing else."
But Eric Court residents Kenneth Rubin and Corinne Gallo, whose properties are adjacent to the Golden Crest development, do not like the idea of blasting taking place less than 1,000 feet from their homes.
Blasting should be a last resort for a developer especially when it will take place so close to existing houses, he said. It is the cheapest method of getting rid of rock for a developer, he said, adding that alternatives to blasting should have been explored.
Blasting is sometimes necessary when roads are being built, said Mr. Rubin. In that instance, there is a public benefit to blasting. But the blasting that is proposed near his house is for the benefit of a developer who will ultimately profit from it, he said.
"Why should a developer be permitted to use blasting?" he asked. " It could damage the basements. My neighbor has a swimming pool. It can damage your home. I don’t know how to protect my property."
"We are very concerned that the blasting will damage our property," said Mrs. Gallo. She was told that the blasting will take place between noon and 2 p.m., sometime during the first two weeks of March.
"We have a swimming pool in the back yard," she said. "The blasting could cause the ground to shift. I think we all are concerned, but our hands are tied. There is nothing we can do."
Rock Work Inc., which is going to perform the explosives work, has been issued a permit for the job, said Mr. Robbins, the acting fire marshal. The blasting permit cost $35.
To obtain the blasting permit, the company had to show proof of insurance, Mr. Robbins said. The explosives company must carry a minimum of $1 million for personal injury and $500,000 for other damage. The explosives company also had to provide a copy of its state-issued license to blast.
"People are often mislead. Blasting is done in a controlled situation. It is done during daylight hours. There is a fire inspector on site. There is a warning signal (before the blasting). Safety is the number one priority," Mr. Robbins said.
This is not the first time that blasting has taken place in Lawrence, he said. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has blasted rock for the foundations of some of its buildings. Blasting has taken place in the Kingsbrook single-family home subdivision off Cold Soil Road.
Blasting also was necessary to excavate for the Pizza Hut restaurant on Route 1 next to the Ethan Allen furniture store, Mr. Robbins said. The furniture store was not damaged by the blasting, he added.