Pleasantville’s Planning Board overwhelmingly rejected a site plan for a transfer station Tuesday night, swayed by impassioned testimonials by determined residents.
In a 3½-hour meeting that at times seemed more like a spiritual revival, the public questioned everything from the company's motives to whether the move was legal.
They had been told it was a done deal.
“Whether I wanted it or not, the transfer station is here,” Mayor Judy Ward said when she addressed the topic briefly at the last City Council meeting.
She insisted the decision was made before her time as mayor, and that the Planning Board meeting would just be about the site plan approval, not whether the ACRR Transfer Station would take up residence at the old Press of Atlantic City building at 11 Devins Lane.
RGC3 LLC has long planned to turn the land at the corner of Devins Lane and Washington Avenue into a transfer station.
The group insisted it's not a "dump" as many have referred to it, and would have strict rules about what can and cannot be brought there, including no municipal solid waste, also known as residential trash.
Owner James DiNatale said each day about 100 trucks would make their way through the building, where their loads of construction and demolition debris would be separated into the proper recycling groups. The remainder would be put into rail cars, covered and sent to Ohio via the nearby railroad tracks.
A sign on the Devins Lane property heralds the transfer station.About 400 tons of debris would go through the station daily, sent out via four rail cars that hold 100 tons each.
Engineers, a planner and a traffic expert spoke, giving their backing and assuring that the plans would have no negative impact on the town.
In fact, there would be about $600,000 a year for a hosting fee, along with an estimated $50,000 in property taxes.
“What is the price on air?” resident Marvin Royal asked during public comment.
“It appears you’re selling us down the river for $600,000,” David Carrington told the board, estimating it was about $50 per resident.
“That’s what we’re worth to you,” he said. “That is offensive.”
“Because they think we’re so hungry, like Judas who sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver,” his wife, Linda Carrington, said when it was her turn. “We’re not that hungry, DiNatale. …“We’re not selling out our children for $600,000. We’re not selling out our neighbors for $600,000.”
Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez said noted the group "brought eight experts, and not one is an environmental expert.”
Several speakers said they were tired of Pleasantville taking on the things that no one else wanted, pointing to the John Brooks Recovery Center and the marijuana facility that currently sits on the Devins Land property.
“The reason they didn’t go to Galloway or our other neighbors is because they said, ‘Get out,’” Linda Carrington said. “Today is April 1, but there are no fools here.”
Even the meeting’s advertisement was questioned, and how the meeting was held.
It was changed from a virtual Zoom meeting to in-person.
“I am tired of these politicians lying to us,” resident David Callaway said, alleging that he pushed for the public meeting that instead “would have been a Zoom, and none of you would have known."
Cristian Moreno-Rodriguez, executive director of El Pueblo Unido, alleged procedural and legal violations, noting that City Council previously approved a resolution to modify the site, but it requires an ordinance.
“The Planning Board has a legal obligation to reject this application outright,” he said to applause.
Resident Tim Jones later said there was an ordinance voted on at one point, but it made no mention of a transfer station.
Board Chair Brian Vigue had questions about the issue after public comment.
Solicitor Edward Hill said he could not answer that publily.
Vigue then suggested voting to table the vote.
That was met with people shouting, “No,” from the audience, who urged the board to just reject it.
Board member John Bettis then moved to do just that.
The board was then advised the motion had to be in the positive, “so that no will be no and yes will be yes,” Vigue explained.
Bettis begrudgingly moved to put forward the vote for approval.
He then voted no along with the mayor and the majority of the dais. Only member Shannon Phillips voted yes.
As Vigue cast the final no vote, the crowd erupted in cheers.
“This doesn’t mean this is over,” Vigue said. “They do have the right to appeal. A judge could end up hearing this and turning this over entirely.”
Those representing RGC3 started to pack up, appearing shocked by the outcome.
They could not immediately comment on their next move.
