Family Seeks to Preserve Pinelands, Property

A Township of Medford family filed suit on February 23, 2015 in the Burlington County Superior Court, alleging their neighbors engaged in the improper clearcutting of 11,000 square feet of native vegetation and trees in the protected Pinelands area of New Jersey.

According to the lawsuit, filed by Plaintiffs Gregg and Eileen Parker, the adjoining property owners Sander and Elizabeth Friedman of Rancocas Lane in Medford improperly engaged in the conduct without seeking the necessary permits and approvals from the Township Zoning and New Jersey Pinelands Commissions. The Parkers’ complaint also alleges that the Friedmans installed an unpermitted water pump and irrigation lines from the Rancocas Creek.

The Plaintiffs in the suit are represented by attorney Stuart Lieberman, of Lieberman Blecher & Sinkevich P.C. in Princeton, New Jersey. According to Mr. Lieberman, the Pinelands represent some of New Jersey’s most protected areas and activity that occurs within them needs appropriate review and approval by State and local government. He stated, “Not only has the environment here been damaged, but non-native, invasive vegetative species have been replacing the native species as a result of the activity, which itself presents an environmental threat.”

The suit seeks monetary damages for the harm to the Plaintiffs’ property, as well as an order requiring Defendants to restore the property to its original condition.

Your can read more about Lieberman Blecher & Sinkevich’s work in Pinelands and related cases here:

• Case Study: A 17-Year Fight with the New Jersey Pinelands Commission
• Wetlands Permitting, Compliance and Enforcement
• Unpermitted Pinelands Violations
• Environmental Regulatory Matters