2023 06 West Orange EIS

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT For MPB Realty, LLC Proposed Popeyes Restaurant & Sonic Restaurant 470 Eagle Rock Avenue (CR 611) Block 153, Lot 38 Township of West Orange Essex County, New Jersey Prepared by: 1904 Main Street Lake Como, NJ 07719 (732) 974-0198 Matthew J. Bersch, PE NJ Professional Engineer License #54522 June 2023 DEC #1021-99-025

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 2. Project Description................................................................................................................1 3. Existing Conditions...............................................................................................................1 A. Vegetation .........................................................................................................................1 B. Wildlife .............................................................................................................................2 C. Topography.......................................................................................................................2 D. Geology and Soil ...............................................................................................................2 E. Groundwater .....................................................................................................................3 F. Surface Water....................................................................................................................3 G. Freshwater Wetlands .........................................................................................................4 H. Water Supply ....................................................................................................................4 I. Sanitary Sewer Service .......................................................................................................4 J. Air Quality ........................................................................................................................4 K. Noise ................................................................................................................................7 L. Cultural/Historical Resources ............................................................................................7 M. Land Use ..........................................................................................................................8 4. Potential Impacts and Environmental Performance Controls and Mitigation

.....................................................................................................................8 4. Potential Impacts and Environmental Performance Controls and Mitigation ...........................8 A. Vegetation .........................................................................................................................9 B. Wildlife .............................................................................................................................9 C. Soil ...................................................................................................................................9 D. Degradation of Groundwater Quality ............................................................................... 10 E. Flooding ......................................................................................................................... 10 F. Degradation of Surface Water Quality .............................................................................. 11 G. Degradation of Freshwater Wetlands................................................................................ 11 H. Water Supply .................................................................................................................. 11 I. Sewage Disposal.............................................................................................................. 11 J. Degradation of Air Quality .............................................................................................. 12 K. Odor ............................................................................................................................... 12 L. Noise .............................................................................................................................. 12 M. Degradation of Cultural/Historical Resources .................................................................. 13 N. Land Use ........................................................................................................................ 13 5. Alternatives to the Proposed Project ..................................................................................... 14 A. “No Project” or “No-Action” Alternative

............. 13 5. Alternatives to the Proposed Project ..................................................................................... 14 A. “No Project” or “No-Action” Alternative ......................................................................... 14 B. Alternative Layouts ......................................................................................................... 14

6. Permits Required ................................................................................................................ 14 7. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 15

APPENDIX • Aerial Photo Map • Tax Map • Zoning Map • USGS Map • FEMA Effective Flood Insurance Rate (FIRM) Map • NJDEP GeoWeb – State Planning Area Map • NJDEP GeoWeb – Landscape Region Map • NJDEP GeoWeb – Streams & Waterbodies Map • NJDEP GeoWeb – Wetlands Map • NJDEP GeoWeb – Historical Properties Map

REFERENCES • Bureau of Air Monitoring (2022). 2021 New Jersey Air Quality Report. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. • Report of Geotechnical Investigation (2021). Dynamic Earth. • Water Monitoring and Standards (2012). Ambient Biomonitoring Network Volume 1 of 2. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

1. Introduction This Environmental Impact Statement was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the West Orange Township Land Use Ordinance in support of a Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan application for a proposed Popeyes restaurant and Sonic restaurant on Block 153, Lot 38 in the Township of West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey (hereafter “the site”). The site consists of 45,713 SF (1.047 Ac), and is occupied by a vacant 1-story building which was previously used as a restaurant. The purpose of this Environmental Impact Statement is to summarize, highlight, or otherwise qualify the extent to which the proposed development will have an impact on the existing site and surrounding areas. 2. Project Description The site is located at 470 Eagle Rock Avenue (CR 611) and also contains frontage along Rosney Terrace. The site is currently is occupied by a vacant 1-story building which was previously used as a restaurant. Surrounding properties include: • North: Eagle Rock Avenue • East: Vacated Fundus Road right-of-way with adjacent commercial uses • South: Existing residential uses within a commercial zone • West: Rosney Terrace According to the Township of West Orange Zoning Map, the site is located within the B-2 (General Business) Zone. The proposed development consists of a 2,525 SF Popeyes restaurant and a 1,484 SF Sonic restaurant. Both restaurants will have a drive-thru. The Sonic also proposes an outdoor seating area of approximately 433 SF. Additional improvements will include parking, driveways, signage, lighting, landscaping, grading, walkways, utilities, stormwater management facilities, and other associated items as shown on the accompanying site plan drawings. 3. Existing Conditions A. Vegetation The subject site is currently developed with a vacant restaurant and parking lot. A tree survey was conducted by Dynamic Engineering Consultants, PC, and thirty-three (33) existing trees were found to be within the proposed limit of disturbance area around the Environmental Impact Statement 1 June 2023 DEC #1021-99-025

perimeter of the development. The existing trees consist of mostly maple, locust, and arborvitae species. The accompanying Demolition and Tree Removal Plan along with the Tree Removal Report provide a further analysis of the existing onsite trees. B. Wildlife Per NJDEP GeoWeb Mapping, there are no wildlife habitats within the site or any adjacent properties. C. Topography Per the Boundary and Topographic Survey prepared by Dynamic Survey, LLC, dated May 13, 2021, site grades generally slope from the southern corner to the northern corner towards Eagle Rock Avenue. Site elevations range between approximately 586 feet and 574 feet. The Township of West Orange Land Use Ordinance defines steep slopes as, “any slope equal to or greater than 10 percent as measured over any minimum run of 10 feet.” Manmade steep slopes are present onsite along the southeastern border as well as along Rosney Terrace. D. Geology and Soil Per the Report of Geotechnical Investigation, prepared by Dynamic Earth, LLC, dated June 3, 2021: “The subject site is located in a region of the Piedmont Physiographic Province of New Jersey known as the Newark Basin. The Newark Basin contains rocks of the Newark Super Group which is a stratigraphic series of Triassic to Jurassic age sedimentary rocks containing intrusive sills and dikes as well as extrusive volcanics. The primary formation beneath the site is known as Orange Mountain Basalt of the Brunswick Group which includes basalt and siltstone. The overburden materials at the site include glacial till deposits and man-made fill.” Based on site subsurface exploration completed by Dynamic Earth, LLC: “Soil borings were performed within existing pavement areas and encountered approximately 1.5 inches to four inches of asphaltic concrete at the surface underlain by up to approximately four inch of apparent subbase material. Environmental Impact Statement 2 June 2023 DEC #1021-99-025

Beneath the surface cover, existing fill material was encountered that generally consisted of sand and gravel with variable amounts of silt and debris. The debris encountered included asphalt and wood. The existing fill material was encountered to depths ranging between approximately two feet and four feet below the ground surface; corresponding to elevations ranging between 580.5 feet and 575.3 feet. SPT N-values ranged between approximately five blows per foot (bpf) and 14 bpf. An unconfined compressive strength (Qp) pocket penetrometer value of 0.5 tons per square foot (tsf) was recorded within the fine-grained portions of the stratum. Beneath the existing fill material, natural glacial deposits were encountered that generally consisted of sand (USCS: SM) and gravel (USCS: GP, GM and GP-GM) with variable amounts of silt and clay. The natural glacial deposits were encountered refusal depths ranging between approximately 3.5 feet and 12.5 feet below the ground surface; corresponding to elevations ranging between 578.3 feet and 566.8 feet. Except for split spoon sampler refusal, SPT N-values ranged between approximately 16 bpf and 63 bpf, and averaged 28 bpf; generally indicating a medium dense condition within the coarse-grained soils.” E. Groundwater Per the site subsurface exploration completed by Dynamic Earth, LLC, apparent perched groundwater within the existing fill material was encountered at a depth of approximately two feet below the ground surface (corresponding to an elevation of 578.7 feet). Groundwater was not encountered at depths ranging between approximately 8 feet and 10 feet below the ground surface (corresponding to elevations ranging between 572.2 feet and 569.3 feet). Groundwater levels are expected to fluctuate seasonally, and following significant periods of precipitation. F. Surface Water The site currently drains via overland flow towards existing onsite inlet structures, which discharge to the existing inlets within Rosney Terrace. These inlets ultimately discharge into the existing stormwater infrastructure within Eagle Rock Avenue. The majority of the site is located in the Lower Passaic and Saddle Watershed Management Area (WMA 4), within the Peckman River (above CG Res trib) subwatershed (04BA01), and Passaic