Wetlands issues had delayed deal
by Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
Township officials are moving ahead on a land exchange with the state that would pave the way for construction of a traffic light at the intersection Deans Rhode Hall and Fresh Ponds roads.
The deal calls for the transfer of a 30-acre parcel of land owned by the township in the Pigeon Swamp State Park for 3 acres of state-owned property along the intersection. The land is needed to widen the intersection and place a traffic light.
The Township Council introduced an ordinance Tuesday that would permit the deal. A public hearing and vote on the ordinance is scheduled for Dec. 4.
Pigeon Swamp is a 1,078-acre state park that is not open to the public and runs between Davidsons Mill and Deans Rhode Hall roads. The swamp is a Category 1 protected waterway that cannot have any upstream stormwater runoff running into it, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The deal has faced significant delays from the DEP due to the presence of wetlands on the property the township is trying to acquire, said Mayor Frank Gambatese. He said the township has been trying to get the improvements done for more than four years, but has not been able to get the swap approved by the DEP.
”It has been very frustrating,” Mayor Gambatese said.
According to Mayor Gambatese, the township has received word that the swap has been approved, but has not gotten official confirmation yet.
”We aren’t going to move forward until we get a piece of paper saying ‘you can do this,’ “ Mayor Gambatese said. “We have been down this road before where we thought we could move forward but approval had not come.”
The site was the scene of 23 accidents between 1998 and 2003, including a fatal accident in 2001, according to police.
Since then the township has made improvements to the intersection, including the placement of oversized stop signs on Fresh Ponds Road, warnings painted on the road that a stop sign is ahead, and removing trees to improve visibility, according to township spokesman Ron Schmalz.
”What we really need to do is widen the intersection and place a light there though,” Mr. Schmalz said.

