Resident Gets Approval for Floodproofing

The planning board unanimously approved a plan by Robert and Judy Margist, of Old York Road, Tuesday to construct a 300-square-foot addition to their house, which was damaged in August by floodwaters from Hurricane Irene.

But one resident expressed concern that this might actually cause more flooding on his property.

Robert Margist told the board that flood waters “substantially” damaged his 1,248-square-foot ranch house on the south side of Old York Road. The flood left the Margists with “basically nothing with the exception of the foundation and four walls.”

Because the house is in a flood plain, the Margists will also have to receive permission from the state Department of Environmental Protection to build the addition, Bogart said.

Michael Lomastro, who lives across the street on Old York Road, told the board he is concerned that the proposed addition could exacerbate flooding.

“I’m worried about getting more water,” he said. “If [Margist] adds on to his house, my house will get more water.”

Lomastro said that in the four decades he has lived in Bradley Gardens, his house only started getting flooded in 1999 during Hurricane Floyd because of the number of new homes built in the neighborhood.

Bogart told Lomastro that he doesn’t believe the addition would worsen flooding because it is downstream.

But Lomastro’s wife, Mary Ann, suggested that the Margists build “up” instead of on grade.

“If you go up, you don’t have to worry about it,” she said.

Bogart told the Lomastros that he would discuss with them possible ways to “floodproof” their property.

According to Bogart, in a separate interview, there are between six and eight homes on Old York Road that were flooded in Hurricane Irene, and are eligible for FEMA aid. But, he said, there are three choices—to do nothing, to agree to have the home demolished with the property becoming open space and to floodproof the house.

"There is funding for two of those three options," he said. "But these homes don't all want to handle this the same way. These are just people who are eligible for flood relief from FEMA."

Although the Margist property is unrelated to this issue, Bogart said—Margist wants to floodproof his house and build an addition, which requires approval from the planning board and the NJDEP—there are several properties that have come to the township's attention.

Most of the homes are on Old York Road, particularly near , Bogart said.

"Some on the other side of Old York Road flood, but they never ask for help because the insurance companies pay the claim," he said. "But if you go down the river, you're going to be flooded most probably."

Bogart said the homes in question adjoin the Margist property.

What do you think, Bridgewater? Do you think increased building has made it more likely that homes will flood in extreme circumstances?

Audrey Levine contributed to this report.