Turf Talk
Setting the Record Straight on Stonetown Environmental Approvals
In a December 2025 email to residents, Mayor Jaime Matteo-Landis stated: "The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has officially issued a letter of Interpretation, confirming that the site is approved within specific limits."
The Claim
What the DEP Letter Actually Authorizes
The DEP issued a Letter of Interpretation on December 31, 2025, for the Stonetown Road property (Block 100, Lot 17). The letter addresses one specific question: the location of the freshwater wetlands boundary on the site.
The letter does not authorize construction or ground disturbance. The letter explicitly states:
"This letter in no way legalizes any fill which may have been placed, or other regulated activities which may have occurred onsite."
And:
"obtaining this determination does not affect your responsibility to obtain any local, State, or Federal permits which may be required."
What Still Needs to Happen
The DEP letter identifies what permits would be required before any work can proceed. These include:
• Individual Wetlands Permit
• General Permits by Certification
• Transition Area Waiver (if applicable)
• Flood Hazard Area Control Act compliance
None of these permits have been issued.
The letter is valid for five years and serves as official verification of where wetlands exist on the property. It is a jurisdictional determination—a necessary first step, but not authorization to proceed with the project.
Timeline
• December 31, 2025: DEP issues Letter of Interpretation (boundary verification only)
• Required action: Borough must record this letter on the property deed within 90 days
• Next steps: Borough would need to apply for and obtain specific project permits from DEP and other agencies before construction can begin
Bottom Line
A boundary letter and project approval are two different things. This letter answers the question "Where are the regulated wetlands?" It does not answer "Can construction proceed?"
