The approval process for Seton Hall University’s proposed basketball practice facility will be extended by at least three weeks, as the South Orange Planning Board postponed their vote after a lengthy session on Tuesday. The meeting was interrupted by concerns from local residents in South Orange and Newark about potential flooding, leading to further discussion.
Earlier on Tuesday, over 100 residents attended an informational session on Seton Hall’s campus to review a historical analysis of flooding issues in Newark’s Ivy Hill neighborhood, which dates back to the 1800s. The discussion included long-term and short-term flood management plans involving Seton Hall, Essex County, and the state.
Newark officials, including Mayor Ras Baraka and water and sewer utilities director Kareem Adeem, assured residents that the area around Seton Hall’s athletic complex is already heavily paved. They stated that the proposed 12,862-square-foot expansion of the Richie Regan Athletic and Recreation Center would not worsen flooding. Instead, the project includes additional detention basins to better manage stormwater runoff, reducing pressure on existing drainage systems.
Officials highlighted that the neighborhood’s topography and increasing climate-related storm intensity contribute to flooding issues. Francisco Brilhante, a senior flooding modeler, noted that enhanced drainage solutions, including those in Ivy Hill Park, are part of the broader strategy. Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo committed to ensuring that recent turf field developments do not exacerbate flooding.
The review also found that a storm sewer on Seton Hall’s campus was built around an old sanitary sewer line, potentially impeding stormwater flow. The recommendation is to relocate the sanitary pipe to alleviate this issue.
Despite some residents’ optimism about the mitigation plan, skepticism remains about Seton Hall’s specific proposal. At the planning board meeting, concerns were raised about integrating the historical review findings into the current application. William Sullivan, the board’s lawyer, clarified that the board could only consider the direct impact of the gym expansion, not broader flood mitigation strategies.
The public hearing, part of an ongoing review of Seton Hall’s expansion proposal, was adjourned to April 6 after several contentious exchanges, including accusations against Seton Hall’s lawyer for alleged misrepresentations. The continuation of the hearing will likely extend further as the board plans to incorporate additional public comments.