A $2.5 billion dollar mixed-use development at the former National Lead site has gained approval from Sayreville Planning Board. The ambitious plan for the 418 acre waterfront site on the Raritan River includes commercial, residential, and housing spaces – with some affordable housing. Another part of the plan takes advantage of the waterfront site by including a 200 slip marina. North American Properties is now the developer of this site and have hired John Kirk, an urban planner, to lead the master planning for the development. Although Riverton will undoubtedly revitalize the area, some people are still concerned because the site is a brown-site.
The site, which has sat vacant for decades, sits on land formerly owned by National Lead. National Lead has been found to be the culprit for contaminating the waterfront land along the Raritan River and has been ordered to pay for the necessary clean-up. Even though the plan is in progress, the clean-up is incomplete. That is why there is an open lawsuit against National Lead brought by the groups Raritan Baykeeper and Edison Wetlands. These groups want to ensure that National Lead does not get off the hook for the clean-up costs now that work is underway at the site. Lawyers for the litigants were the only people to speak when the Sayreville Planning Board had a open forum for input from the public about the planned project. It is worth noting that the lawsuit is not against the present developers and is not seeking a stop to construction. Rather, the lawsuit seeks to hold National Lead accountable and have the contaminated areas properly cleaned.
The Riverton project highlights a problem in New Jersey. There are places that are desirable for development, such as along rivers like the Raritan and Passaic. However, many of these areas are contaminated from years of industrial pollution. The cost of the clean-up is great and unless it is a Superfund site are the polluters are identified and held liable, many properties will remain vacant. Fortunately, the Riverton project is developing unused land that once was unusable. And thanks to concerned citizens, the land will be clean.