The Villadom Times Weekly Newspaper Online-Aug 25, 2010 Issue

Mahwah August 25, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Zoning board denies Chai Lifeline appeal by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Zoning Board has denied an appeal by Chai Lifeline. The non-profit organization had asked the board to overturn a 2009 determination by a former township zoning officer that Chai Lifeline’s use of a 4.4-acre Ramapo Valley Road property for single families a few days at a time is not permitted by the zoning ordinance. In July 2007, the house and property were given to Chai Lifeline by the previous owners, Pamela and Craig Goldman. The site is located at the rear of an eight-lot subdivision that is accessed by a single private road that leads from a dual driveway access from Ramapo Valley Road. The property has an in-ground pool and access to the Ramapo River, which passes by to the west. The house has been used since that time for multi-day periods of grief counseling of families with children who suffer from serious illnesses, groups of mothers whose children have passed away, groups of young widows, or those who share a common family crisis. The board’s 4-1 decision was rendered following closing arguments by Timothy Slade, a neighbor who notified the zoning officer about the use of the property; attorney William Smith, who represented several neighbors; and Marc Liebman, the attorney representing Chai Lifeline. The decision came at the end of a 16-month public hearing that included testimony from several planning experts and neighbors of the Chai Lifeline property. Slade reiterated that the use of the property by Chai Lifeline has disrupted the quality, tranquility, and security of his life and changed the character of his neighborhood. Smith recognized the good work being done by Chai Lifeline, but argued that the issue before the board is that a private preserve has been taken over by a corporation that is using the property in a way that is not permitted under the borough’s ordinance for a single family. Smith claimed that, if the board permitted this use as a single family residence, it would have to permit this type of use in every single family residence in the township. “Is the use as portrayed as taking place on this prop- erty permitted in the R-80 zone in Mahwah?” Smith asked. “That is the issue before you.” He added, “What Mahwah doesn’t want or need is a transient use in a residential zone. This zone was not meant to incorporate transient uses.” Liebman said Slade caused the organization’s need to appear before the zoning board by complaining about the use of the property. The attorney criticized the resident for complaining about the loss of his privacy while using a telephoto lens to look at the people on the Chai Lifeline property. “He has an agenda,” Liebman said, “a personal, deeply (continued on page 16) � �� Doctor Helps Child Ear Infections The best prices are now! 8-25-10 mike/janine DrJacobsEarInfection2x3(8-25-10) 2 col x3 ��