Mountain View Road area residents ‘ecstatic’ about plans.
By: Purvi Desai
After fighting more than a decade for a sewer line extension to their neighborhood off Mountain View Road, news that the Township Committee plans to include money to pay for it in this year’s budget spread quickly in among the neighbors.
"We’re all ecstatic," Arthur Road resident Curtis Carnes said. "They’re sorely needed out here."
Many of Mr. Carnes’ neighbors on Brook and Tara drives have had septic systems fail, leaving them either expensive repairs.
The committee adopted a temporary 2007 capital budget Tuesday, which includes money to extend sewer service to Mountain View Road as well as a separate line to Riverview Terrace and Hiland Drive on the township’s eastern edge.
The township budget has not been introduced yet.
Township Clerk Kevin Davis said the Mountian View connection is possible because sewers are being extended to the Pleasantview Estates subdivision being constructed on Pleasantview Drive. As a result, approximately 70 houses on Arthur Road, Brooke Drive and Terra Drive will be able to connect, he said.
The extension to Mountain View Road will cost $50,000, which will be paid for by the developer. The residents on Brook and Tara drives and Arthur Road will have to pay for connection to the main line built for the new subdivision.
Mr. Carnes said the 30 to 40 septic systems in his neighborhood make it difficult for residents to sell their homes he said that usually the sellers demand new septic systems, which can cost between $40,000 and $50,000.
"A lot of those people were older people looking for equity on their homes," Mr. Carnes said, adding that all of the residents in his area have to be especially careful in managing their septic systems, by limiting the amount of water used. He said people have to think twice about throwing large parties such as graduation parties for their children.
"Everybody here is pretty happy that this is happening," Mr. Carnes said. "The sooner the better."
Craig Werner, another Arthur Drive resident, moved into the neighborhood 17 years ago and has been trying to get sewer lines to the area ever since. He said the probability of getting sewer to the Mountain View Road subdivision has been hinging on the new development on Pleasantview Road, first approved by the township in the early 1990s.
"It looks like we’re 90 percent there," Mr. Werner said. "This is a permanent solution."
"I’ve been very, very happy with the way the township has been taking an approach to this," he said. "I was very, very nervous. It really is a very nice thing. Really amazing."
Sue Paulino, of Tara Drive, just off of Arthur Drive, said that although she and her husband aren’t excited about the new subdivision, she appreciates the fact that its construction has enabled her subdivision to get sewer lines.
"Just about everybody down here is thrilled," she said. "I think that had we wanted to sell, we probably would have had to replace the septic tank."
The installation of sewers on Riverview Terrace and Hiland Drive will cost $600,000, $570,000 from bonds that will be paid for by assessments on the individual properties connecting, and $30,000 from the township’s capital improvement fund.
Residents in those neighborhoods have also been facing failing septic systems and approached township officials about obtaining service. The township will connect the new lines to existing service at Walker Road.
MUA Director Gary Nucera was unavailable for comment for this story.

