NFL owner’s family wants to build 500 units in pristine N.J. forest. Locals are fighting back.

A decades-long battle to stop a housing development from being built in one of Essex County’s last untouched forests is back in court again.

Several West Orange residents and community activists are suing to stop a billionaire family’s plan to build nearly 500 apartments on a 120-acre forest in the Watchung Mountains.

They argue in the lawsuit that the project would destroy wetlands, worsen flooding in the area and break agreements made in court nearly 20 years ago.

Billionaire developer Zygmunt Wilf , a co-owner of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, and his family own the forested tract through their company, West Essex Highlands Inc.

The residents’ lawsuit was filed Sept. 19 in Superior Court against West Orange Township and the Wilfs’ company.

Attorneys for West Essex Highlands Inc