Bridgewater Lawsuit: Somerset County Accused of Illegally Cutting Hundreds of Trees

Bridgewater's Lawsuit Against Somerset County

• ⚖️ Bridgewater officials have filed a lawsuit against Somerset County concerning the removal of trees near Washington Valley Park.
• 🌳 The dispute centers on the number of trees cut down, with Bridgewater alleging a significant discrepancy between approved plans and actual destruction.

Discrepancy in Tree Removal

• 📄 Somerset County submitted plans to remove 34 trees for a new access road to Washington Valley Park.
• 🌲 However, township engineers estimate that between 300 and 500 trees were actually cut down, a scale far exceeding the approved plan.
• 🚧 The construction site, intended for a new access road to replace Miller Lane, has been described as decimated.

Environmental and Regulatory Concerns

• 💧 Bridgewater officials argue that the removed trees were critical for controlling storm water runoff down the mountain.
• ⚠️ The lawsuit alleges that Somerset County is not complying with state storm water regulations.
• 🏞️ Residents expressed shock at the scale of development, noting they moved to the area expecting the park grounds to remain undeveloped.

Lack of Response from Somerset County

• 📞 Bridgewater officials have reached out multiple times to Somerset County for comment.
• 🚫 As of the report, Somerset County officials have not responded to the allegations or inquiries.