Do you have an idea for a project that will benefit your community, but it is not permitted by the town’s zoning ordinance? This was the case for one of our clients in Normandy Beach, Michael and Kim Venutolo. After the community lost many of its traditional businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, the Venutolos were inspired to bring life back …
Did you know a standard 100-watt cobra street light can add approximately $130.00 to your electricity bill each year? This annual expense comes in addition to the installation cost of the fixture and other maintenance/repair fees. On occasion, a lighting manufacturer will assist civil engineers in preparing lighting plans. This helps the manufacturing company promote their lights, and it allows …
This new bill allows builders to use private inspection agencies, approved by the Department of Community Affairs, in the event that municipalizes cannot complete inspections within three (3) business days of the request. Would you use private inspections if given the opportunity to do so? Vote
Previously, obtaining approval for development along a county road was a relatively straightforward and streamlined process. However, in recent years it has become more challenging and time-consuming to receive approval from a New Jersey County Planning Board. To understand why this has taken place, we must first understand what County Planning Boards review when they receive a site or subdivision …
On September 28th, Hurricane Ian made landfall on the southwestern coast of Florida. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has classified this storm as a 500-year storm event, making it one of the worst storms that the United States has seen in recent years. To most people, the term “500-year storm” is just a phrase, and the expression fails to …
If a frog is on your site, it would be prudent to check if it is a Threatened & Endangered species. If it is a Threatened & Endangered species, wetland transition areas and riparian zones will be affected. A wetland transition area is a buffer area upland from a freshwater wetland used to minimize negative impacts on the wetland. Similarly, …
Have you ever driven past a construction site and wondered: What is the purpose of that black fabric installed along the site’s border? This black filter fabric is known as a silt fence, and it plays a vital role in preserving a site’s soil. Normally, vegetation stabilizes topsoil so that stormwater is less likely to disturb it and transport it …
Recently, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced that it would be implementing Emergency Rule-making to the Flood Hazard Area Control Act (FHACA) Rules (or N.J.A.C. 7:13). Five key points from this Emergency Rule-making include, but are not limited to: Non-tidal design flood elevations will be raised by two feet. “Non-tidal” applies to sites that are not affected by flooding …
In most New Jersey municipalities, there are minimum lighting requirements for roadways, parking lots, and outdoor recreational areas. These requirements exist to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians traveling through the area. So, Civil Engineers and Landscape Architects prepare lighting plans to demonstrate compliance with these requirements, when applicable. Here at WJH Engineering, we are constantly re-investing in our …
The answer to this question has become increasingly important to land developers. The speed at which water travels through soil (permeability) can affect the amount of land available for development on a property. In stormwater management design, which is required for virtually all development, permeability determines the size of a stormwater management system. If the soil has a low permeability, …
