MARGATE – According to city officials, there are no major negative findings in an environmental report investigating what’s in the ground at the Liberty gas station, which the city plans to purchase and turn into a parking lot.
City engineer Ed Dennis Jr. offered a “high level overview” of the Phase I Environmental Report investigation conducted by his firm, Remington & Vernick Engineers, during the Board of Commissioners meeting Dec. 19.
“Generally, nothing unexpected was found in this environmental review process,” he said. “What was found is not uncommon in a site that operated as a gas station for decades.”
Dennis said all but two of the 12 underground storage tanks that existed at the property have already been properly removed. The two remaining tanks are partially located under the garage building and will be removed when the building is demolished.
The two tanks have been properly closed in compliance with NJ Department of Environmental Protection regulations, and proper steps taken over the years by Exxon, he said.
Also, 19 ground water monitoring wells, which have been tested quarterly for about 30 years, will remain on the property and testing ground water will continue for many years after the city purchases the property.
The city is awaiting settlement of its purchase of the Liberty gas station from Bryan and Colleen Taylor in the coming weeks, and the Exxon Corp. will assume all responsibility for remediating any contamination.
“There are a few spots on the site with contaminated soil that Exxon is aware of,” Dennis said.
R&V reviewed historical maps that show there may be two underground storage tanks in the southwest corner of the site near Franklin Avenue that are not currently being investigated by Exxon. A ground penetrating radar survey did not turn up any tanks, but the area is covered with concrete, so findings are not definitive, he said. However, Exxon will assume responsibility for removing them at their own expense.
“An environmental escrow will be posted so the city will not incur any costs,” Dennis said.
The amount of the escrow has yet to be finalized, solicitor John Scott Abbott said.
The 2,700-page report has been made available for public review on the city’s website.
Several residents asked questions about the report and offered both positive and negative comments about converting the gas station into a parking lot.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg revealed that the city did not receive a competitive land acquisition grant offered through the NJ Economic Development Authority it had applied for to help pay for the $3 million project.
The Board of Commissioners Aug. 1 approved a $3 million bond ordinance putting the funding in place to purchase the parking lot. The purchase price is $2.3 million with the remainder for development.
Resident Alana Alexander said she was surprised to learn that the city was denied the grant, which she said would increase taxes for residents.
Blumberg said at first, he was against bonding for the project, but now he supports it because the other commissioners agreed that it would be a good thing for the city and subsequently bonded $3 million for the purchase. He pushed to have the parking lot constructed with “more of a park-like setting,” with trees and benches.
“For me, if there were problems with this environmental site and we couldn’t come to an agreement, that wouldn’t make me unhappy,” he said.
Abbott said the parties are still ironing out some details, but the game plan is to settle as soon as possible, so it can be completed before the start of summer.
Dennis said construction of the parking lot could be started almost immediately after settlement, although construction plans, and bidding would need to be done according to process.
After hearing that, one gentleman said it sounded like the project will not be ready by summer.
Another woman asked what residents can do to stop the project and said if it were put to a public vote, most residents would vote against it.
“I have never…had an issue getting a parking spot up there, ever,” she said, noting parking was more of an issue in the southern-most business district.
“Why did you never notify the residents you did not get the grant?” she asked. “Why do things happen here that we never know about?”
She said the board was not considering residents who are against the plan.
“It doesn’t matter what we say, you three have the final say.”
Commissioner Cathy Horn said the board members were elected to make decisions about what is best for the city.
“Not everybody is going to agree but we have to do things that we think are best for the city,” she said. “Anything we can bond, anything that will help a little bit, I’m for it.”
The woman suggested the issue should be put before the residents in the form of a referendum.
Resident Steven Baglivo, who is currently embroiled in a lawsuit brought by the city for overdeveloping a multi-use property he owns, said he supports the creation of a parking lot in the northern business district.
“I think the parking lot is a great idea and it’s definitely needed,” he said. “I believe in it. I think it should happen.”
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