Critics Blast Billionaire's Plan To Raze North Jersey Forest For Apartments [VIDEO]

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A large crowd of critics heaped scorn on a proposal to build hundreds of apartments over a large portion of forest in North Jersey during a heated public hearing this week.

The West Orange Planning Board heard more than three hours of comments about the controversial West Essex Highlands project at their Wednesday meeting. Watch video footage here, or view it below.

Developers are proposing to build a 496-unit, four-building residential complex at a 120-acre tract of land on the western ridgeline of the Watchung Mountains, which borders West Orange, Essex Fells and Verona. Nearly 30 acres of forest would be cleared under the plan.

Zygmunt Wilf, a billionaire developer and co-owner of the Minnesota Vikings, owns the tract of land with his family through their Short Hills-based firm, West Essex Highlands Inc.

Critics say the current proposal has grown even denser since the turn of the millennium, when the idea of developing in the area raised similar complaints: too many houses, construction on steep slopes, the potential endangering of wetlands, and more traffic on local roadways.

Previous versions of the project have been rejected by the West Orange Planning Board. However, the new plan is to make 100 of the units “affordable” – a major selling point from developers.

West Orange has a deficit of hundreds of affordable housing units that will need to be fulfilled by 2035. The town has recently seen multiple “builder’s remedy” lawsuits from developers, who say the town should let them move forward with plans to create more housing.

Advocates have argued that while there is a big need for affordable housing, it shouldn’t come at the expense of public safety or the preservation of green space.

In 2020, the Township of West Orange reached a settlement with West Essex Highlands Inc. and the West Essex Highlands Condominium Association Inc. about the project, which can be seen online here. West Orange was obligated to move the project forward under the agreement.

The project has seen renewed pushback from residents and elected officials over the past few years.

In 2024, the Verona Town Council passed a resolution requesting that the West Orange Planning Board deny the application. Similar resolutions have since been passed by the environmental commissions of Essex County, Caldwell, South Orange, West Orange, Verona, Montclair, Livingston and Millburn.

Last year, 39 environmental organizations including the New Jersey Sierra Club, sent a letter to West Orange’s mayor, town council and planning board, urging them to deny the application.

The latest show of opposition came during Wednesday’s planning board meeting in West Orange. Nearly 100 residents, environmental advocates, community members and municipal leaders showed up to voice their opposition to the project.

Speakers included Vincent Mann, chief of the Rampough Lenape Indian Nation of New Jersey and New York, who said there are more than 100 ceremonial stones and other significant markers in the area.

“The very least that this council and this planning board and all of the people in the state of New Jersey can do is to remember us,” he said. “Remember the original people who are still here, who are within your community.”

Jonathan Redwine, a former town council candidate, thanked the planning board for volunteering their time to serve as members.

“I know that the DNA of this body is to protect the health, safety and general welfare of this community,” he said. “And I hope you're mindful of that as you move towards taking a vote on this application.”

“We're your neighbors – we're asking you to protect us from the proposal that's sitting before you,” he told the board.

Another speaker – a resident of Davey Drive – said there are many homeowners in the area who are worried that the development will cut into property values and impact their quality of life.

“Land ownership does not entitle a developer to build upon land if the land is unsuitable,” she said.

No vote on the project was taken at the Jan. 28 meeting. The proposal is scheduled for another hearing on Feb. 11. See the meeting agenda here.

Article continues below

Meanwhile, environmental advocates continue to push back against the proposal.

“It is irresponsible and entirely inappropriate to threaten public safety and environmental health to fulfill a billionaire’s desire to develop,” said Maegan Kuhlmann, an organizer with the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Kuhlmann alleged that the project is the opposite of “smart growth” – a development philosophy that includes environmental protection and climate change.

According to the Sierra Club, if the plan moves forward, it will cause more extreme flooding that will impact nearby residents.

“This development will bulldoze 30 acres of core forest in Essex County and threaten public safety at a time when climate change is already exacerbating natural disasters across New Jersey,” Kuhlmann said in the wake of this week’s planning board meeting.

The project also continues to be opposed by We Care NJ, whose members helped to spearhead opposition to West Essex Highlands during its last incarnation. The group has shared project documents and updates on their website, and spearheaded a press conference to oppose the project last year.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.