Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-July 15, 2009 Issue

July 15, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Franklin Lakes Borough resident voices concern about COAH plan by Frank J. McMahon A resident of DeKorte Drive in Franklin Lakes who lives across the street from a site that is included in the borough’s zoning plan for affordable housing has voiced her concerns about the plan to Mayor Maura DeNicola, the borough council, and the state’s Council on Affordable Housing. At a recent public meeting, Shirley O’Reilly expressed her concern to the borough’s governing body about the plan’s inclusion of a less-than-half-acre lot across the street from her home where a five bedroom house for people with special needs would be permitted to give the borough credit for five affordable housing units. “I’m very perplexed how this got approved,” O’Reilly said, explaining that several years ago she was not permitted to put a shed on her property because of lot coverage restrictions. She questioned how a five bedroom house would be permitted on such a small lot. “Why would I put a nickel into my house if across the street something (like this) will be shoved into such a small lot? It’s a very bad plan.” O’Reilly said she has a disabled child and is not opposed to affordable housing for people with special needs, but she feels it is inappropriate on this site. Mayor DeNicola reminded O’Reilly that a number of public hearings were held to inform the public about the plan and it is available for review in the borough clerk’s office. She also emphasized that rezoning borough owned property leaves the borough in control if and when affordable housing would be built on those sites. DeNicola also pointed out that the plan had to be submitted to COAH by Dec. 31 of last year in order to comply with the law and prevent the possibility that a developer would file a “builder’s remedy” lawsuit against the borough for not having a plan in place. In such a lawsuit, a builder seeks permission from the court to build more units than permitted by a municipality’s zoning ordinance. She also emphasized that the plan contains language that allows the borough to change it at any time. O’Reilly, nevertheless, stated her objection to the plan in a letter to COAH in which she asserts that all the residents of the borough were not given enough information about the plan to fully understand its implications. She also states that the plan is not reasonable because it calls for (continued on page 15) �� Introducing The Dr. Patrick E. Ryan �� • Latisse State of the Art Dentistry • Botox $9 per unit Over 20 Years Experience • Juvederm $480 per syringe 909 Belmont Ave • Porcelain Veneers $600 per unit North Haledon, NJ 07508 • Crowns $690 per unit 973-304-1577 www.thedentalandcosmeticcenter.com • Most Extractions $150 D ental & osmetic C enter C (regularly a $70 fee) FREE Exam and Digital X-Rays (less radiation) �� Total Design & Maintenance Service ��