Frank
DeCarlo and his “Piermont Developers Limited Liability Company” entity are
threatening to build a planned monstrosity known as “447-477 Piermont Avenue”
right in the center of Piermont, New York – a real estate development that would wreck the
character and functionality of the Village of Piermont forever, if built.
Therefore, the residents of Piermont have an absolute right to know whether Frank DeCarlo has a record of responsible building and development - and for that matter, whether their Piermont Village government has already done a responsible job of due diligence researching Frank DeCarlo’s past building and development work.
You already know the second answer. If Piermont Village government did any due diligence on Frank DeCarlo or his companies to date, Piermont Village government has certainly not shared it with the residents of Piermont. More likely, dysfunctional Piermont Mayor Bruce Tucker and other Piermont board members, committee members, and government officials are far too inept to even know how to do due diligence on Frank DeCarlo and his companies. That is why they are indubitably reading this Blog and looking to me to do their work for them, just like they surely have been doing over the past four months.
As for the first answer, newly-unearthed documents from the Bergen County Soil Conservation District (BCSCD) make the answer pretty clear. Those newly-discovered documents are linked below, and you are going to want to read them. The documents tell you whether Frank DeCarlo has a record of responsible building and development.
Therefore, the residents of Piermont have an absolute right to know whether Frank DeCarlo has a record of responsible building and development - and for that matter, whether their Piermont Village government has already done a responsible job of due diligence researching Frank DeCarlo’s past building and development work.
You already know the second answer. If Piermont Village government did any due diligence on Frank DeCarlo or his companies to date, Piermont Village government has certainly not shared it with the residents of Piermont. More likely, dysfunctional Piermont Mayor Bruce Tucker and other Piermont board members, committee members, and government officials are far too inept to even know how to do due diligence on Frank DeCarlo and his companies. That is why they are indubitably reading this Blog and looking to me to do their work for them, just like they surely have been doing over the past four months.
As for the first answer, newly-unearthed documents from the Bergen County Soil Conservation District (BCSCD) make the answer pretty clear. Those newly-discovered documents are linked below, and you are going to want to read them. The documents tell you whether Frank DeCarlo has a record of responsible building and development.
There is a law in New Jersey called the “Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act” (Chapter 251, P. L. 1975; L. 1975 C. 251, § 1 eff. Jan. 1, 1976):
https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/agriassist/chapter251.html
https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/njerosion.html
Pursuant to this law, and to simplify, a Bergen County, New Jersey builder and developer is beholden to the “Standards” promulgated by the local authority. In this case, the local authority is the Bergen County Soil Conservation District (BCSCD) - the same entity that forwarded me the below-linked original documents.
The applicable rule is simple. If the
builder and developer seeks to move more than 5,000 square feet of soil, the
builder and developer must notify BCSCD in writing by mail at least 48 hours in
advance. It's not merely hortatory. The builder and developer failing to observe the requirement risks adverse consequences up to and including a Stop Work Order in a worst-case scenario - as iterated in the below-linked documents.
As explained to me by BCSCD, BCSCD’s timely receipt of this written notification is vitally important to their own work on behalf of the people and communities within Bergen County, since BCSCD permits are normally good for three-and-a-half years. Therefore, BCSCD might not otherwise know when a builder and developer starts digging-out for the foundation. After all, BCSCD cannot possibly monitor every single previously-permitted site within Bergen County twenty-four hours a day – and builders and developers like Frank DeCarlo of course know that.
As explained to me by BCSCD, BCSCD’s timely receipt of this written notification is vitally important to their own work on behalf of the people and communities within Bergen County, since BCSCD permits are normally good for three-and-a-half years. Therefore, BCSCD might not otherwise know when a builder and developer starts digging-out for the foundation. After all, BCSCD cannot possibly monitor every single previously-permitted site within Bergen County twenty-four hours a day – and builders and developers like Frank DeCarlo of course know that.
Keep in mind that soil movement is often directly related to, and a prerequisite to, the building of a foundation for a structure. We already know about foundations and Frank DeCarlo’s record as a crack builder in Paramus:
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/06/frank-decarlo-crack-builder-from-new.html
If a builder and developer gives the proverbial bum’s rush to the BCSCD and flouts the notification requirement, that could in theory turn out to be the same builder who rushes the ensuing foundation work - possibly leading to a cracked foundation or other structural problems, not to mention ineffectual erosion control practices and sloppy sedimentation consequences.
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/06/frank-decarlo-crack-builder-from-new.html
If a builder and developer gives the proverbial bum’s rush to the BCSCD and flouts the notification requirement, that could in theory turn out to be the same builder who rushes the ensuing foundation work - possibly leading to a cracked foundation or other structural problems, not to mention ineffectual erosion control practices and sloppy sedimentation consequences.
Here comes the unbelievable part.
Between
Year 2012 and Year 2020, Frank DeCarlo and his various entities failed to provide
BCSCD the requisite 48 hours advance notice of land disturbance activity - not
just once, but seven (7) different times, at seven (7) different Bergen County, New
Jersey locations. The BCSCD failure notice letters are here:
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_48.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_31.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_71.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_27.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_32.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_65.html
I read this as a series of wanton consecutive recidivist violations. Yet Frank DeCarlo just paid the relatively modest “noncompliance fee” to BCSCD each of the seven consecutive times. He no doubt chalked it off as a simple cost of doing business - yet while thereby flouting the rules with flagrant disregard for BCSCD’s work and purpose, not to mention the rights and well-being of adjacent neighbors.
If Frank DeCarlo cannot help but repeatedly disrespect the governmental authorities in Bergen County responsible for protecting the landowners, communities, and environment adjacent to his Jersey projects, then why would anyone think that Frank DeCarlo would suddenly have an attack of conscience when installing a multi-unit residential atrocity right in the middle of Piermont, New York?
For an even better idea of what Piermont residents will likely face if and when Frank DeCarlo brings his tools and his cute little FDC pick-up truck to the Village, have a careful look at the "Site Inspection Sheet" from Year 2022 linked below. It reflects BCSCD’s follow-up on a complaint regarding a silt and soil maelstrom that Frank DeCarlo caused at 20 Helen Court in Norwood, New Jersey. BCSCD had to dun Frank DeCarlo with repeated contacts and threaten him with a violation letter, before he eventually got around to cleaning up his own mess:
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_48.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_31.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_71.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_27.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_32.html
https://unhandpiermont.blogspot.com/2024/07/frank-decarlo-fails-and-pays-non_65.html
I read this as a series of wanton consecutive recidivist violations. Yet Frank DeCarlo just paid the relatively modest “noncompliance fee” to BCSCD each of the seven consecutive times. He no doubt chalked it off as a simple cost of doing business - yet while thereby flouting the rules with flagrant disregard for BCSCD’s work and purpose, not to mention the rights and well-being of adjacent neighbors.
If Frank DeCarlo cannot help but repeatedly disrespect the governmental authorities in Bergen County responsible for protecting the landowners, communities, and environment adjacent to his Jersey projects, then why would anyone think that Frank DeCarlo would suddenly have an attack of conscience when installing a multi-unit residential atrocity right in the middle of Piermont, New York?
For an even better idea of what Piermont residents will likely face if and when Frank DeCarlo brings his tools and his cute little FDC pick-up truck to the Village, have a careful look at the "Site Inspection Sheet" from Year 2022 linked below. It reflects BCSCD’s follow-up on a complaint regarding a silt and soil maelstrom that Frank DeCarlo caused at 20 Helen Court in Norwood, New Jersey. BCSCD had to dun Frank DeCarlo with repeated contacts and threaten him with a violation letter, before he eventually got around to cleaning up his own mess:
Here are some excerpts from the above-linked Helen Court site inspection. The bold-face emphasis is my own:
"6/14/22
Investigated complaint about 20 Helen Ct Norwood. Interior work underway. Access stoned, overwhelmed by silt, washing along curb and into adjacent inlet. Tracking into street. Silt fence overwhelmed at near left, undermined on far left, and missing in two areas along rear. Soil washing over retaining wall in two locations. Silt fence needs reset and extension. Access needs cleaning and extension. Street needs cleaning.
~DB
6/15/22
Call to Frank Mailbox full could not leave message. -DB
6/15/22
Sent email to Frank with detialed[sic] discription of needed erosion control maintenance. Specified deadline of 6/22 to complete or recive[sic] violation letter…
6/23/22
… Soil still washing over old silt fence and retaining wall — Need to remove old silt fence and install directly above retaining wall.
-DB
6/24/22
Left message for Frank with detailed instructions for erosion control maintance[sic]. Repeatedly requested call back to discuss required items.
-DB"
