Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • February 16, 2011
Allendale
John Fell House property to be rezoned
by John Koster If the Allendale Master Plan is approved by the borough planning board this Thursday, the historical John Fell House will soon be in the residential A Zone. Allendale Mayor Vince Barra, who is also a planning board member, said that two members of Concerned Citizens of Allendale, architect Mary Scro and Suzanne Lovisolo, had appeared before the planning board with ample documentation. The two women urged that the John Fell House be rezoned from an area that permits condominiums back to single-family residential. “We all agreed that that made sense,” Mayor Barra said. The mayor noted, however, that the John Fell House is adequately protected by the fact that New Jersey Green Acres funds and Bergen County Open Space funds were used to purchase the venerable house from its last private owner. This funding would have precluded demolition for commercial purposes even if the existing condominium zone had remained in effect. The John Fell House once belonged to John Fell, a Revolutionary War era statesmen who was arrested by the British and imprisoned in New York City. Fell served in the Second Continental Congress, and later helped ratify the United States Constitution. A condo developer’s plans to demolish the 1750-era house and its out buildings polarized a number of Allendale residents who are interested in architecture, history, and the environment. The Fell House is located uphill and across Franklin Turnpike from the Celery Farm Natural Area, which is already plagued by runoff in heavy rains. Replacing the green space on the Fell House lot with condos would have produced even more rain damage and drainage problems, objectors said. George Cotz, a Mahwah attorney, was able to head off the Allendale Planning Board’s approval of the developer’s site plan. Cotz disclosed that a 1983 agreement required the owners of the land to notify all townhouse residents on the contiguous lot and gain their approval for any further townhouse units. When the attorney for the site applicant, a consortium based in Fort Lee, admitted that the condominium owners had not even been notified, and the Allendale Planning Board dismissed the application without preju-
dice pending notification to the townhouse owners. The developer first appealed to Superior Court, then dropped the application. Volunteers who helped raise funds to purchase and preserve the house are still raising funds so they can refurbish the house in authentic Colonial style and turn it into a designated cultural center.
Trinity Church honors retired seniors
On a recent Sunday evening, the Senior Youth Group of Trinity Episcopal Church in Allendale hosted the Trinity Retired Seniors for a festive dinner. Teens arrived early to prepare for their special guests. Each Youth Group member was responsible for cooking and bringing Senior Youth Group hosts and servers included Eric Ackerman, Kevin Ayers, Jonathan Bara portion of the dinner. rios, Courtney Cross, Johnny Fink, Danny Friedman, Elise Friedman, Adam Milano, and JonaBy 3:45 p.m., the parish than Tengi. (Max Restivo could not attend, but supported the event.) hall was bustling with teens draping specially arranged banquet tables with tablecloths, and setting the coats, and ushered their guests inside. tables with festive plates, silver, wine goblets, flowers, and After a brief welcome speech by Adam Milano on candles. The kitchen was full of food and “helper” parents, behalf of all the teens gathered, the dinner was officially who supported their teens, but the young people ran the underway. Each teen served a VIP. The fare included event. freshly carved roasted turkey and gravy, and a variety of Teens were at all posts to welcome and honor the Trinity pies, cheesecakes, and ice creams. Retired Seniors. Senior Youth Group musical artist JonaThe teens finished the evening by thanking their guests than Barrios played a steady stream of clarinet music as for coming and for the honor of serving them. Everyone guests arrived, while other teens helped with doors and involved is looking forward to next year.
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