"Stop the Poles in our Community"
Our web address:
www.stopthepoles.com
This website is to inform and update anyone with interest about the devastation to our community of Upper Pittsgrove Twp. , Salem County in Southern New Jersey. This is due to the installation of a substation and high tension poles, and wires by Atlantic City Electric in our beautiful community.
This website was last updated 8-18-09
"HUGE UPDATE" for 8-18-09
(please see our updated progress/notes at the bottom of this webpage.)
(ACE = means Atlantic City Electric)
This is our new view from many of our back yards.
ALERT...."Rt. 77 Latest UPDATE !"
"IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN !"
In July 2008, ACE was denied by the NJDOT, a permit to install steel poles on Rt. 77's right away.
Over the past few weeks ACE has had surveyors along Rt. 77, surveying the new proposed steel pole route.
ACE is planning on reapplying to the NJ DOT for this permit.
NJ DOT right of way regulations, clearly state, only break away poles in their right of way!
Yes, steel poles will be added to the picture soon!
This intersection of Rt. 77 and Shirley Road, is clearly one of the most dangerous intersections in Southern New Jersey.
What happens at this intersection when there is an accident involving steel poles and transmission lines?
Wouldn't underground transmission lines be a perfect option for this scenario.
Show your support by sending this letter to NJDOT today!!!
"RE-NAME OUR ROAD CONTEST"
Hurry... May 1st deadline for entries...
Want free lighting from ACE???
This was a 4 foot flourescent bulb held by an STP committee member standing near steel pole.
Yes, it lit up!
At most Bridgeton Road resident's homes, we were able to stand on their front porches, and light the same bulb!
ACE says EMF's are "not" at dangerous levels ???
"Stop The Electric Company
From Taking Our Land!"
Salem County is NOT a DOORMAT!
Pristine, rural farmlands and scenic countryside are disappearing in Southern New Jersey.
‘Stop the Poles’ is a committee of residents concerned about preserving our “country atmosphere”. Upper Pittsgrove Township is currently being oppressed by Atlantic City Electric as they have already installed 37 rusty, steel poles measuring 83’ above ground along Bridgeton Road with a plan for an additional 25-30 poles on State Highway 77.
The Negative impacts of these poles are:
· De-valuation of properties in vicinity of poles/sub-station
· Permanently disfiguring our scenic, pristine, rural community
· Safety hazard along roadway – Steel Does Not Move!
· Negative economic impact on Farmers, Local Businesses and Agri-Tourism
· Health Concerns
‘Stop the Poles’ Goals Are:
· All future electrical service be placed underground
· New electrical service on Bridgeton Rd. be moved underground
· Re-assessment for Orchard Sub-Station property so residents may benefit from reduced taxes
· Taxes to be re-assessed for properties with view of sub-station
· Become Involved in Preserving Our South Jersey Community by writing letters to the editors of local area newspapers and contacting our elected officials.
= Today's Sunbeam at bgallo@sjnewsco.com
= The Elmer Times at fostermemark3@aol.com
= Senator Stephen Sweeney at sensweeney@njleg.org
= Assemblyman John Burzichelli at asmburzichelli@njleg.org
= Congressman Frank Lobiondo at www.house.gov/lobiondo, select "Email the Congressman." or 1-800-471-4450 from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday to Friday
= Senator Frank Lautenberg at fax number 202-228-4054, go to www.lautenberg.senate.gov and then select "Email Senator Lautenberg."
= Governor Jon Corzine at
609-292-6000,
609-777-2500
For More Stop the Poles Information
Call
(856) 358-8320
*Interference with Planting, Irrigating, Spraying & Harvesting
*Reduction in farmable acres
Photos of this installation in our community!
Orchard Substation entrance from Bridgeton Road (Rt. 614) Click here to view the photo!
Orchard Substation sign at entrance off Bridgeton Road (Rt. 614) Click here to view the photo!
Roadway leaving Orchard Substation entrance road, heading South on Bridgeton Road (Rt. 614) Click to view the photo!
Continuing South on Bridgeton Road (Rt. 614) Click here to view the photo!
Photo of the poles and wires crossing back and forth across the road. Click here to view!
Notice the existing wooden poles on the right side of the road that Atlantic City Electric says were removed. Also notice
the newly constructed huge, rusty, steel poles that are 83 feet in height with approximately 200 feet between them.
click this button below....
From this picture you can see continuing South, the rusty steel poles were originally supposed to be approximately 500 feet apart. 20 total poles! ACE forgot they were supposed to run 3 Phase wire along Bridgeton Road. In order to correct their error, they added 18 additional poles, with averaging distances of 200 feet between them. Poor planning????
This is a beautiful farm in our community with the new, ugly, rusty, steel poles towering over it.
The poles are out of control!
Look at the magnitude of these poles compared to the truck in the photo. They don't belong here!
We need your help! Send an email to:
Let us know that you support us, and thanks for visiting our website!
created by the:
"Stop The Poles Committee"
Come and see this........!
To get a better view of this disaster, go South from Pole Tavern Circle on State Highway 77 exactly three miles to the yellow blinking light. Make a right at the light (Elmer-Shirley Road) and go to next intersection. You will see them. Make a right and be careful observing. They are towering over the road.
Updated Progress Notes Section....
1-18-09 - STP continues to receive information of the constant noise coming from the substation. STP members also report at committee meetings their stories of the noise constantly coming from the substation.
1-6-09 - STP finds out today that 4 people, and only 4 people have had a reduction in taxes because of their views of the substation that was erected. The tax assessor called the poles a unique situation.
12-20-08 -
The "Stop the Poles" committee has handed out a letter to friends
and neighbors of the community of Upper Pittsgrove Twp. appealing for help and
support. This letter can be viewed or printed from here:
12-13-08 - Stop the Poles committee members on Bridgeton Road, where most of the devastation has occurred in our community, and others in close proximity to the poles and substation, are now receiving letters from the Upper Pittsgrove Twp. Tax Assessor after the inspection of their properties is now completed.
The letter:
(you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view
this letter)
We have a message to give to our Twp. tax assessor.....
OK, fine! But would you want to live here now, if you were us! It is time for people to start thinking what would I do or how would I feel if this was impacting me before doing things that impact others. Of course there was none of this pre-thinking by Atlantic City Electric or Upper Pittsgrove Twp., towards the residents of Upper Pittsgrove Twp.
We're in the news!
12-12-08 - Today the Salem Sunbeam wrote an article with the latest update between Stop the Poles and Atlantic City Electric.
http://www.nj.com/sunbeam/index.ssf?/base/news-4/122906221123660.xml&coll=9&thispage=1
We're in the news!
11-6-08 - Tonight on Channel 23, New Jersey Network aired a 2 minute commentary on our cause here in Upper Pittsgrove Twp.
11-1-08 - Tax assessor Edwin Kay will be out Wed 11/5/08 between 9am-2pm to residents affected by the substation and Bridgeton Road poles. He will be doing a second visit Tues. 11/11/08 from 3-6pm. If you have any questions, or your property should be reassessed, please call him at 856-451-2000.
10-15-08 and 9-22-08 - Congressman Frank Lobiondo and Assemblyman John Burzichelli tour with Stop the Poles
10/2/08 - Stop the Poles travels to the Board of Public Utilities, along with Freeholders Timberman, Hogan, County Administrator Gage and Deputy Mayor Bill Brooks
10/1/08 The "Salem County Watchdog" has a huge amount of information on our cause located on their website.
You can go to their website at:
http://www.salemcountywatchdog.com/page.asp?ID=618
10/9/08 -
The Democrat Club of Upper Pittsgrove Township sponsors "Stop the Poles
Information Night".
9-16-08 Please see another group's website that is working together to oppose power lines in their community.
www.stopthelines.com
9-16-08 Important dates to remember!
Wednesday, 9/17/08- Freeholder meeting at 7:30 Salem County Courthouse
Thursday- 9/18/08- Landuse Board meeting at 7:30PM- Upper Pittsgrove Townhall
Wed, 10/1/08-7:30PM- Freeholder meeting at 7:30PM-Salem county courthouse
Tuesday 10/14/08--7pm-Township Committee meeting-Upper Pittsgrove Townhall
Wed. 10/15/08- Freeholder meeting-Salem county courthouse-7:30PM
Thursday-10/16/08-Landuse Meeting at 7:30PM
Coming in October..A Public Forum Sponsored by The Upper
Pittsgrove Democractic Club... Details to come
9-16-08
Important Tax information...
If you feel you deserve to have your taxes reassessed, please contact Ed Kay at
856-358-3890 or 856-451-2000, or visit him in person at the Upper Pittsgrove
Town hall on Wednesday's 2PM-6PM.
Mr. Kay plans on sending out letters to residents that their properties may be
affected by the Bridgeton Road poles or the Orchard Substation. He plans on
having the letters out by the end of September or beginning of October. Mr. Kay
plans on having all re-assements done by December 2008. Please contact him with
any questions.
8-23-08 Upcoming Events!
Salem County Freeholders Meeting = Wednesday 9-3-08 at 7:30 PM Salem County Courthouse
Upper Pittsgrove Twp. Committee Meeting = Tuesday 9-9-08 at 7PM Upper Pittsgrove Town Hall
Upper Pittsgrove Land Use Meeting = Thursday 9-18-08 7.30 PM Upper Pittsgrove Town Hall
Come out and show your support!
8-23-08
The Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders Meeting 8-20-08. Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution for transmission lines along road right of ways, to be placed underground.
The Upper Pittsgrove Twp passed a similar resolution on 8-13-08
Here is the link to the newspaper article about the meeting:
http://www.nj.com/sunbeam/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1219301406131550.xml&coll=9
8-21-08
If you ever wanted to know how to appeal your taxes in Salem County, there is help! Check this out...
http://www.salemcountynj.gov/cmssite/default.asp?contentID=1191
8-15-08 - Important Update
Stop the Poles invites you to attend....
Wednesday, August 20,2008 at 4PM
The Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders Meeting
Bus leaves from Coombs Farms at 3PM
Please call 856-358-8320 to sign up for the bus or to ask any questions.
Come show your support and make a difference!
8-4-08 = STP Committee members prove a serious point with a wrecked van and an important message. Click Here to view the photo!
8-3-08 = One of the STP (Stop The Poles) committee members standing in front of the new rusty steel poles. Click Here to view!
8-2-08 = Today there was an accident in Upper Pittsgrove Twp. on highway 77, in exactly the area of the proposed new huge, towering steel poles. They are to be installed October 2008. Luckily this huge tractor trailer that hit this pole snapped it right off. With the new steel poles, the outcome will definitely be way different. I am sure you'll agree. What if next time it's a fuel tanker or worse.....?
Click here to view photo #1! Click here to view photo #2!
7-31-08 = Committee meeting tonight.
7-29-08 = Article in Todays Sunbeam printed today!
Link to article:
http://www.nj.com/news/sunbeam/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1217308228304090.xml&coll=9
7-23-08 = Our first stop the poles committee meeting was held tonight to assemble neighbors willing to fight back against this huge mess in our community by Atlantic City Electric. It was a coming together of frustrated neighbors willing to try and stop this huge mess happening to our small rural farming community. We are learning a lot about the way in which this endeavor began, and how it is being handled, and also the impact to our township. We are communicating with our elected officials and sharing responses with one another.
Thank you for visiting our website!
Disclaimer: This website was created by a grassroots group of concerned citizens regarding the contraction of the Atlantic City Electric Orchard Substation and the steel poles on Bridgeton Rd. and proposed poles on Garrison Rd and State Hwy 77, Upper Pittsgrove Twp, Salem Co. NJ and it's impact on this rural community as well as health and safety issues for it's residents and those traveling these roadways. It is intended as a source of information regarding the project history, it's possible future plans, meeting announcements and updates, property re-assessments, correspondence and other related facts. There is no intent of libel or defamation towards Atlantic City Electric, or any other entity involved with this project. Any inaccurate information that may be on this site is unintentional, and we would appreciate it being brought to our attention by using the e-mail link above.
Thank you.
Stop the Poles Committee