Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-July 13, 2011 Issue

Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • July 13, 2011 Midland Park Permits issued for Wortendyke townhouse development The townhouse development on Greenwood Avenue across from Veterans Park in Midland Park is finally getting started. Rigs Development LLC last week obtained town permits for the construction of the footings and foundation for three structures on the nearly one-acre site between Central and Clinton avenues. The property in the Wortendyke section of town had been cleared of fencing and vegetation the previous week. Plans call for the mixed-use development to include 12 townhouses in two buildings fronting on Greenwood Avenue and a separate building fronting on Central Avenue with commercial space on the first floor and three apartment units located on the second and third floors. The apartments – a studio and a one-bedroom on the second floor and a three-bedroom on the third floor - will meet Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) requirements and rent at affordable rates. The two-and-a-half-story townhouse units will each have a garage, storage and some useable space at grade level, second floor living space and an attic accessible through a pull-down ladder. Several variances were needed for the project, including height, setback and area. The commercial building will be three stories instead of two as allowed by ordinance, with a height of 34 feet. The floor area will be 1,336 sq. ft. instead of 1,200 sq. ft. to accommodate the COAH requirements, and the setback along Greenwood Avenue will be 2.7 feet instead of 15 ft. The board found that these deviations were in keeping with the other buildings along Central Avenue. The townhouses will be 37 ft. 11 ½ in. in height and the parking lot bordering on Clinton Avenue will include 7-ft. buffers between spaces to eliminate a 73-foot long curb cut. The townhouse buildings also required setback variances, both along Greenwood Avenue (15.37 ft. instead of 25 ft. for a section of the structure), along Clinton Avenue (0 ft. instead of 5 ft.), and along the rear of the building, where a fence will be provided. The board felt that locating the parking area to the side and to the rear of the townhouses would be a visual improvement worth waiving the setback requirements. The project received zoning board of adjustment approval in July, 2010. The site was rezoned from industrial to attached single-family dwellings in 2005. It abuts a residential zone of mostly two-family homes built in the early days of the borough’s formation in the 1800s. The original plan had called for some COAH townhouse units, but Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements made it more practical to consolidate the units in the commercial building instead. Volunteer post available on borough’s zoning board �� has one open �� The Midland Park Zoning Board currently �� seat. Residents who are interested on serving on the board may send a letter of intent or their resume to: Borough �� Clerk/Administrator Adeline M. Hanna, Borough of�� Midland Park, 280 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. �� (continued from page 9) said. in the service, touring the country with the prestigious Mac Donald, who retired in 2004, taught instrumental group, including performing during President John music and led the band and orchestra at Highland School F. Kennedy’s inauguration. He has also played with a since 1969. He spent a number of years as marching band number of professional orchestras throughout his career, director and teaching concert and jazz bands at Midland and now in retirement he performs with the Bergen and Park High School. Rockland philharmonic orchestras. The Education Hall of Fame is open to past employees “We had a great program. Midland Park has a wealth of the school district who made significant contributions of raw talent, and we always had great community sup- to the improvement of the school system in their own speport. I miss it,” MacDonald said, noting that he led more cial ways over a sustained period of time, over at least a than 150 concerts. He was the school district’s recipient five-year period. Nominees must have been retired from �� of the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award in 1991. the Midland Park School District for at least three years at “I always believed in giving solo opportunities. It�� are submitted. the time that their names ��Former Midland Park High School Athletic Director �� gave the students confidence to last them for the rest of their lives,” he said. Adolph�� Santorine was last year’s inductee. Sci�� “Sonny” MacDonald singled out former Highland music� �� Jack Cogger and physical education teacher ence teacher �� teacher Terry Alnor for her collaboration in the school’s Jerry Thomas, both deceased, were the first inductees in �� music performances. “We had a great team together,” he 2009. �� Gordon McDonald �� S�� UMMER �� SAVINGS �� ’S �� AT ROHSLER ��