School concerned about Gateway's water demands

WESTFALL —Delaware Valley officials are concerned about what kind of impact the Gateway Project might have on the area’s underground water supply. As they prepared to spend more than $850,000 on securing the future water quality at the Dingman-Delaware schools campus, district officials queried their engineer about Dominic Bradlee’s Gateway, multi-use project, with its proposed 730 residential units, retail stores and medical facilities. Engineer Mike Weeks, of McGoey, Hauser & Edsall, noted that his firm also represents the Dingman Township Planning Commission. “If the project gets that far,” he said the planning commission would require test wells to determine the impact on existing wells in the area. Board Chair Bob Goldsack said financial guarantees that Weeks said might be required to an impacted private home “don’t make us comfortable.” Beyond financial compensation in the case of an impact, the state and the Delaware River Basin Commission could become involved given the likely water usage involved. Weeks said there is currently no land development application before local planners. In the event of an impact, Weeks said the district could intervene on the developer’s application with the township or go to court Facilities and support supervisor, Marvin Eversdyke recommended that the district’s solicitor monitor the project. “Better to stay ahead than catch up,” he said. Goldsack directed that a letter go to the Dingman Planning Commission detailing the district’s concerns.