DUI Lawyers in Denville, NJ

DENVILLE − An anxious community packed a Denville Zoning Board meeting Wednesday night to hear an application for a 90-foot-tall digital billboard that some Indian Lake residents fear will damage their views, cause light pollution, pose health hazards and lower property values.

The large turnout followed a letter circulated by Beth Tecchio, president of the Indian Lake Community Club, to advise club members of the meeting. The letter included initial details of the proposal by Outfront Media to erect the electronic billboard on property owned by the Denville Fire Department Association at 4 Indian Road, from where it would be visible to eastbound motorists on an elevated portion of Route 80.

Tuesday night, the audience heard further details as the national company's New Jersey general manager, John Antal, said they already had state permits to erect the sign, but would need a D-1 use variance in what is designated as a B-3 zone permitting "businesses of a retail sales and service type and for use of office buildings for professional and business."

Most of what was heard did not go down well with the crowd, which Board Chairman Ed Moroney had to frequently admonish for shouting. Several dozen people stepped up during the public session, but were frustrated when they were limited to specific questions about specific testimony heard at the meeting.

Many were angry to hear their prepared questions would have to wait until the next board meeting, when the application will continue with testimony from the Outfront Media engineer. That testimony is expected to include details of the board's operation, its power requirements, light output and other technical issues.

Several more speakers were cut off when they chose instead to voice opposition to the application

"I want to know what we, the people, can do to stop this," Leslie Pessemier asked.

Antal said they had a lease agreement with the association, a private, nonprofit, non-municipal entity that serves as the fundraising arm of the Denville Volunteer Fire Department. A static sign on the opposite side of the 14-by-48-foot digital billboard would be available as a static sign for the association.

"In my territory in New Jersey, we operate over 3,500 displays and of that, 105 of them are digital billboards similar to the one in our application," Antal said.

Four of those billboards are located in Denville - two on Route 10 and facing Route 46.

The location chosen for their latest billboard, he said, was based on its availability and proximity to the interstate highway, which was closed down in both directions that same night due to another sinkhole discovery, flooding Denville with a high volume of motorists seeking alternative routes.

The new billboard would operate in the same manner as the other Denville billboards, with fixed electronic images rotating every eight seconds, along with public service and emergency announcements as needed and local bulletins when time allowed.

Moving images such as video or flashing lights are not permitted by law, Antal said. A variety of advertising would be permitted, including political topics and ads for online gambling. But the company abides by state restrictions including illegal activities and cannabis dispensaries.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the engineering testimony was moved to the board's meeting on June 4. Moroney said a final public comment period would follow the completed testimony, during which time residents can voice their opinions prior to a final vote.

Moroney said he wasn't sure when that final vote would be, but it was "a good bet" that a third meeting would be needed before the application is settled.

The audience included former Denville Mayor and Planning Board member Ted Hussa.

"I think it's too much for a country lake community, which has four of these billboards already," Hussa said after the meeting. "And all these people are going to be affected by the light. It's just too much."

Traffic had resumed normal flow on Route 80 eastbound in Denville by 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 31 after three lanes had been shut earlier in the morning due to a crash.

The crash and traffic delays had occurred mere hours after the long-awaited reopening of two westbound lanes of Route 80 in Morris County on the evening of May 30 after sinkhole repairs.

The crash occurred at about 4 a.m. on Route 80 eastbound, just east of Exit 39 and state Route 53 in Denville, according to the state Department of Transportation. The three left eastbound lanes were closed, with traffic merging down to one lane. As a result, traffic had been backed up as far west as Exit 39 according to the state DOT.

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On the bright side, two westbound lanes on Route 80 in Wharton reopened the evening of May 30, and all lanes in both directions are scheduled to reopen June 25 after sinkhole repairs are completed.

While two lanes of traffic will reopen, construction will continue in a median work zone next to the two lanes of traffic. A barrier curb will be installed to separate the construction from the lanes.

Reduced speed through workzone

There will be a reduced speed limit of 45 mph through the work zone as repairs continue throughout the month of June. The completion of sinkhole repairs depends on weather, specifically sealant application process and pavement of multiple layers of asphalt, said NJDOT.

The sinkholes on Route 80 in Morris County caused trauma and headaches to thousands of commuters and businesses over the past several months.

The sinkhole opened up on Feb. 10, just months after another sinkhole was discovered and repaired in December.

Another "significant void" was found on Feb. 27 under the eastbound lanes were the initial sinkhole appeared causing more extensive repairs.

"I had to hit my brakes because a huge mountain lion slowly and powerfully and confidently crossed the road in front of me."

Those are the words of CB, who says she came very close to a mountain lion while driving from Boonton to Denville, New Jersey, recently.

Her eyewitness account is the latest of dozens of such reports I've received from around New Jersey from people who claimed to have seen a mountain lion or cougar in New Jersey.

Despite people like CB who say they've seen mountain lions in New Jersey, the official position of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife is that there are no mountain lions in the state.

That's a pretty straightforward statement, but the more eyewitness accounts that are shared with me, the tougher I find it to believe.

While I can understand that for years there were no mountain lions native to the state, I also believe it's possible that mountain lions have "ended up here." Maybe a few have migrated here from elsewhere. Maybe exotic pets were released by people who could no longer care for them. Perhaps a couple escaped from a private zoo and were never reported. Anything is possible, right?

Understandably, many don't believe there are mountain lions in New Jersey. "No picture, no proof", they say.

Over the last 20 years, I've had dozens of deer run in front of my car. I don't have a single photo - does that mean it didn't happen?

New Jersey has over 7,000 square miles of area. One or two - or even 6 mountain lions could certainly live here undetected, couldn't they?

CB says she was driving near Mountain Lakes at about 5 p.m. when she had to hit the brakes on her truck to stop for a "huge mountain lion" crossing the road in front of her. She says it "slowly and confidently" crossed the road.

"He looked about 6 feet long, and his tail was just about as long as his body. He walked with such confidence, and I freaked out and started to look for my phone to capture it on camera, and by the time I found my phone, he was back into the woods."

CB says she used to live in Tennessee and is very familiar with bobcats and coyotes, and she's sure this was a mountain lion. "This animal was almost it seemed as long as my truck! He was huge!"

CB says "without a doubt", what she saw was a mountain lion.

Have you seen a mountain lion in New Jersey? I'd love to hear your story. My email: joe.kelly@townsquaremedia.com.

Read more about mountain lion sightings in New Jersey here.