Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-December 15, 2010 Issue

Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • December 15, 2010 (continued from page 5) built and nothing else was around it. Disario said that, in reality, people already live and shop around the site, so those trips would actually be diverted trips and not new ones. Williams questioned what impact those 2,000 trips would have on the roads in the Mahwah area and whether the improvements needed to those roads would cost more than the $3.5 million the ordinance would generate for the township. Williams also questioned why office space was included in the plan, noting that the office space market is lackluster. He suggested that part of the use of the property might be eliminated from the plan to reduce the traffic impact. Councilwoman DiGiulio voiced the opinion that it is not the township’s fault that the office space market collapsed. She emphasized that the question really is whether the council wants retail on this site, considering the impact it might have on the quality of life in the township. Councilman Spiech reminded his peers that, for 15 years, the people of Mahwah have been saying they don’t want a large retail use in the township. Several members of the public spoke out against the retail proposal, claiming it would have a negative effect on the township. However, one or two residents spoke in favor of the plan, noting the tax ratable it would bring to the township. Joseph Burgis, the township’s professional planner, gave the council an analysis of the fiscal impact of the proposed Council to consider retail use for Crossroads site zoning change, explaining that it could bring 1,600 jobs to the area versus the 5,000 jobs the current office use zoning could bring if the site were fully built out. Burgis said the zoning change would increase the taxable value of the property by $125 million, and he projected $2.65 million in property tax revenues and $150,000 in municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue, although there might be an estimated police cost of $320,000. He projected that the center would not produce any additional students for the township’s schools and no additional school costs, while it would produce $1.6 million in school tax revenue based on the school tax rate. Burgis estimated that the total revenues the township would receive minus the potential cost would result in net revenues of $364,000. His estimate of the hotel tax revenue was challenged by Williams, who noted that the hotel occupancy tax revenue in the township has been down recently and any increase in it from the proposed hotel at this site might just drain the revenue from the township’s other hotels. Councilman Roth challenged Burgis on his projection that the retail center would not produce any additional school children because the new jobs would not be high paying ones. He said that, if even 15 of the 1,600 jobs generated 23 children at 1.5 children per family and a current cost of $15,000 per year, that would cost the school district $345,000 a year. “Saying there would be no impact on the schools is optimistic,” Roth said. “There would definitely be some kids coming to the township as a result of this development.” Intersection (continued from page 3) from Miller Road, about seven feet from the front of the old library building, and two feet from the front of the former TD Bank property on Franklin Turnpike, which would narrow down in a gradual taper north of the intersection in front of Wachovia Bank. He said the county would not continue to allow the uncontrolled accesses that currently exist along the Franklin Turnpike entrances to the two service stations. The county would instead require curbing to create two 30-foot wide driveways to the Sunoco station and a single 45-foot wide driveway to the Gulf station, where cars entering from the north would have to exit from the rear of that service station onto Miller Road. DaPuzzo said he felt that would hurt both merchants significantly. Alderisio voiced the opinion that the current open front of the Gulf station allows cars to exit on a 45-degree angle to get into traffic on Franklin Turnpike, but the curbs creating the driveways would require cars to exit at a 90-degree angle, which would be more difficult. He also said he did not believe the limited driveway access would permit a 60-foot tanker truck to get in and out of the Sunoco station without backing out onto Miller Road. William LaForet, the owner of the Sunoco station, told the council he did not see the need for the improvement. He claimed that traffic at the intersection has not changed dramatically in recent years, and there have been no accidents there. He claimed the recent widening of intersection of Pulis Avenue, Forest Road, and Wyckoff Avenue and the Main Street and Franklin Turnpike intersection in Ramsey have had a negative effect on the businesses at those intersections. La Foret also expressed the concern that the project could take a long time, which he said could be devastating to his business and the others along Franklin Turnpike. ANYTHING COMPUTER OF MIDLAND PARK �� Virus Removal �� & FLOORING �� for...CONVENIENCE COMPETENCE We Are Located Right In Town We are ASE Certified and AAA Approved We Save You Money Over Dealer Prices NJ No Longer Does Safety Inspections. WE DO! 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