A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community
A big, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has voiced their care and concern for Parsippany! Your voices, petition signing, and hearts are such a beautiful part of this community. This effort has brought us together in ways we couldn’t have imagined. I am so thankful for all the new neighbors I have met and had the chance to work with. Tonight was not a victory for the denial of the application, but it was the start to a new chapter of “the coming together” of the community to stand up and challenge the decisions that directly affect us.
Special thanks to Elliot from the Highlands Coalition, the planning board members who did vote NO, the Historical Society, Mr. Raia, from the BOE who spoke on behalf of himself as a parent and neighbors, all the parents, distant neighbors, and everyone from nearby and faraway towns who supported us. Your dedication and passion have been truly inspiring. I just can’t say thank you enough!
Update:
Tonight, the planning board voted for the development and approval of a truck distribution center warehouse to be built less than 200 feet from Eastlake Elementary School.
The trees that once separated Eastlake Elementary School will be removed, replaced by a short wall less than 8 feet tall. This wall is supposed to protect the children from the 24-hour warehouse employees and truck drivers. However, emissions are not contained by a wall. Groundwater contamination is not contained by a wall. The harm that will come from this development will not be prevented by an 8-foot wall. The consequences of this decision will impact our community for generations.
The removal of these trees means less clean air and less filtered carbon, leading to increased pollution. The noise from the warehouse will disrupt learning and could cause long-term health issues.
Children who once enjoyed field days, outdoor gym classes, and playing on the playground will now face an unsafe and dangerous environment.
Please continue to fight this! We thank you for your support with all our heart and soul. Thank you! Keep sharing, and we will keep fighting this together!
This decision by the planning board, with the exception of two board members who voted no, is deeply troubling. To those board members who stood with us, we commend you! You are the voice this town needs. For the rest of the board and the Mayor, we call for a vote of no confidence for the safety and welfare of our community.
We must continue our fight to the next level: the State. Let’s appeal this decision and protect our community’s future.
Please keep signing! This battle isn’t over until soil is broken.