Surveying & Site Design Services for Straight and Narrow Rehabilitation Center

In 2019, a devastating fire destroyed the rehabilitation facility operated by Straight & Narrow, a division of Catholic Charities of Paterson. To restore these critical services, the organization partnered with LAN to provide land surveying and civil engineering services for a new rehabilitation center in Paterson, NJ. The effort involved full-site design services for the 105,000-sf facility, including layout, grading, utilities, and thorough coordination with city and county planners and engineers.

LAN’s civil engineering and surveying teams collaborated closely with Straight & Narrow and NK Architects to navigate a complex approval process. The project required multiple appearances before city and county boards, and reviews were slowed by a transition within the city’s engineering department. LAN also secured a street vacation for a portion of Cedar Street to accommodate the new site improvements.

The site conditions introduced additional hurdles, as poor soil quality and stringent stormwater regulations limited the design options. The township prohibited connections to combined sewers, and the county restricted sheet flow onto its roadways. To meet these requirements, LAN designed an innovative stormwater management system that directed runoff to vegetated areas for natural absorption and incorporated flat piping and drains to manage excess flow on-site. This solution balanced municipal and county standards while supporting long-term sustainability with new plantings.

Ongoing coordination with municipal boards and agencies helped secure timely approvals, protect funding, and keep the project on schedule. Despite strict regulations and lengthy permitting, LAN’s integrated approach enabled steady progress. Construction began in June 2024 and concluded in October 2025, delivering a modern rehabilitation facility built to serve the community for decades to come.