Waldwick October 27, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 9 Borough’s master plan update may get delay Waldwick was all set to get its master plan updated in the coming months, but now the state legislature may be granting the borough and other municipalities in the same circumstances, a reprieve. That is good news to Borough Administrator Gary Kratz. “It’s a good thing. There is no need to really do it,” Kratz said. “Now we can save ourselves $7,500 and defer the work until we have to do it.” The last master plan reexamination was done in 2003. The administrator explained that the borough is not undergoing any major development at the present time, and that the council “has been tweaking its ordinances to reflect existing conditions” all along. The borough council had scheduled a vote on approving the project and hiring a planner to do the work at its last meeting, but could not act on the resolutions due to a lack of the necessary quorum. Soon after, the NJ Assembly approved a bill changing the requirement for a master plan reexamination from six years to 10 years. While that bill is not yet law, Kratz said quick passage is expected, since it is part of Governor Christie’s “Tool Kit.” Kratz said the borough had put off having the work done last year waiting for a decision from the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) on the town’s housing requirements. The state Court threw out COAH’s initial requirements and now legislation is likely to make further changes. “I didn’t want to put it off much longer, so I set the wheels in motion getting quotes from planners, etc.,” he explained. The borough had anticipated hiring the Hoboken planning firm of Phillips Preiss Grygiel LLC, which prepared the last two reexamination reports. The $7,500 fee would have been raised through a special emergency appropriation funded over a five-year period, as permitted by state law. The families that will be living in the new Bergen Habitat for Humanity condominiums in Waldwick were introduced to the community at a “Sweat Equity” kickoff breakfast sponsored by Atlantic Stewardship Bank on Oct. 16. They were welcomed by Bergen Habitat Executive Director Jacey Raimundo, the Bergen Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, Borough of Waldwick officials and members of the Waldwick Chamber of Commerce. After breakfast, those present worked with the new homeowners and their friends landscaping outdoor areas and prepping the construction site. With continued efforts from them and all Habitat’s volunteers, these homeowners are expected to move into their new homes in June. “I left there feel very good inside,” commented Borough Administrator Gary Kratz, who worked alongside his son, David, planting bamboo. “I expect to volunteer again, and I strongly encourage other residents to do likewise,” he added. The D’Annibale family, currently living in Waldwick, will move into the four-bedroom condominium. The family of five consists of a single mother with four children. The Moore family of three, a single mother with two Habitat residents introduced to the community children, will move in to the two-bedroom unit. The Moores currently live in Ramsey. The Elias, a three-generation family currently living in Hackensack, will be moving into the other two-bedroom unit. The Herrera family of five, husband, wife and three children, will be moving into the three-bedroom condominium. They currently live in Mahwah. The historical Van Wagoner home at 101 Franklin Avenue, which was donated to Habitat by the Borough of Waldwick, is being renovated into four-dwellings for lowincome families. Each family is required to perform 400 hours of ‘sweat equity’ by volunteering to work on Habitat for Humanity projects. Community volunteers also provide labor. The new homes will also provide the borough with four credits towards its affordable housing requirements. Each unit in the 5,000 sq. ft. former farmhouse features living room, kitchen and bathroom on the first floor and the bedrooms and another bathroom on the second floor. Each home will have an outdoor area as well. The proper t y was acquired by the borough in a (continued on next page) “If the shoe fits, REPAIR IT!” Best Shoe Repair by (201) Magazine 25 Years in Shoe Repair It’s time to protect & weatherproof your fall favorites! ���������� ����������� ��� ������ ������ ������ �� ����� ������� ������� ������ ���� ������ Hours: Tues-Fri ���������� ��� ���������� Closed Mon ������ �������� 8:30-5:30, Sat 8:30-4:oo, ������ ��� ��� ������ ����� ������� ����� �� ������������