Mahwah January 13, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Township intends to conform to Highlands plan by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Council recently approved two resolutions indicating the township’s intention to revise the master plan and development regulations to conform to the regional master plan of the state’s Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) for certain portions of the township. If the township ultimately agrees to conform to the Highlands Council’s Regional Master Plan, the municipality would give up some control over its own zoning in order to obtain a more favorable obligation for affordable housing in Mahwah. According to Joseph Burgis, the township’s professional planner, the Highlands Council Regional Master Plan divides Mahwah into two areas: a preservation area and a planning area. The portion of Mahwah west of Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202) is in the preservation area, and the land east of that road and east of the southern portion of Route 287 is in the planning area. The fundamental distinction between the two areas is that municipal and county conformance with the Highlands Council Regional Master Plan is required in the preservation area, but is voluntary in the planning area. Burgis told the council that opting into the Highlands Council Regional Master Plan would provide the township with a strong presumption of validity of its master plan and legal protection by the Highlands Council if the township were sued by a developer. The township would also be eligible for grants to pay for some of the amendments that must be made to the township’s master plan in order to conform to the Highlands Council Regional Master Plan. In addition, the township’s affordable housing obligation that has been set by the Council on Affordable Housing at 783 units would be reduced to 72 units because of the more stringent development requirements of the Highlands Council Regional Master Plan, such as increased buffer areas and restrictions on building on steep slopes. Burgis further advised that those 72 units would be reduced to zero because of the affordable housing credits the township has accumulated. If the township opts-in, however, it would have the obligation to maintain its plans and ordinances in conformance with the Highlands Council Regional Master Plan and obtain the approval of the Highlands Council before adopting any ordi- Regional Chamber of Commerce plans luncheon at Ramapo College The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold a buffet luncheon on Jan. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. at Ramapo College of New Jersey, Trustees Pavilion, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah. The topic for this popular event is “A New Year, A New You.” A panel of experts will discuss how to stop smoking, secrets of a heart healthy diet, and how to start a fitness program. Panelists include representatives of Good Samaritan Hospital, including Michael Prus, Alison Sullivan, and Howard Wilen. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Peter Mercer, president of Ramapo College of New Jersey. The luncheon is sponsored by Bon Secours Charity Health System, comprised of three New York-based acute care hospitals: Saint Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis; and Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. The System also includes Good Samaritan Home Care, two longterm care facilities, an assisted living and adult home facility, and several other medical programs. The Bon Secours Charity Health System provides the region’s only open heart surgery program; Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; advanced cancer, (continued on page 16) nances or regulations relating to that master plan. It would also have to get authorization from the Highlands Council before giving local approval to certain types of land use applications. The township could at any time voluntarily revise its master plan and development regulations applicable to the development and use of land in the planning area to conform to the Highlands Council Regional Master Plan. The township could also withdraw from that master plan and any approvals, rejections or conditions of the township’s revised master plan or development regulations recommended by the Highlands Council at any time during the plan conformance process. Those approvals, rejections or conditions would then not be binding on the township for land within the planning area. 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