Mahwah April 27, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Tribe reportedly had interest in Crossroads casino by Frank J. McMahon Mahwah Council President John Roth recently advised his peers on the governing body that, following the council’s vote to rezone the 140-acre International Crossroads property for retail use, he learned that the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware had expressed an interest in purchasing the property. The plan was to have the land declared a reservation so they could build a casino on the site. The Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware represents the citizens of a Lenape Tribal Community concentrated in central Kent County, Delaware. Over the years, some members of the tribe have moved into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Canada. Members formed a constitutional Tribal Government in March 2010, and the tribe was granted State Designated Tribal Area status for the purpose of the 2010 U.S. Census. Roth said he verified with the developer that they had been contacted by a consultant for the Indian tribe about the potential purchase of the property, and they offered to set up a meeting with that consultant. Roth said he told them the township had no interest in such a meeting because the property had already been rezoned. He emphasized that an Indian reservation would pay no taxes to the township, and he pointed out that the developer had other options for the site, including affordable housing and a regional hospital. “At least one of them (the other uses) would have been worse than a retail center,” Roth said. The council president then thanked the members of the council who voted to rezone the Crossroads property from office park to a mixed retail, office space, hotel, theater, and recreational use. “Something else a lot worse than a mall could have been built there, but that won’t happen now because of the rezoning,” Roth said. In response to questions from Councilman John Spiech, who voted against the rezoning ordinances, Roth confirmed that no one on the council, or in the administration, knew anything about these options prior to the vote to rezone the property, and he agreed that nothing would preclude the developer from selling the property to the Indian tribe now that the land has been rezoned. Spiech advised after the meeting that he asked that question because of his concern that the value of the rezoned property will increase, and the developer still has the right to sell the property to anybody. (continued on page 8) 20 off % *Joaillier Accessories non-sale items with this ad. Great Mother’s Day Gifts! Bring A Coffee And Walk Your Winter Blues Away In Our 55,000 Sq. Ft. Enclosed Greenhouse Open to the Public Get your planting ideas early – before the big rush. Fashion Jewelry Boutique Featuring Trend-Setting 196 E. Ridgewood Avenue • Ridgewood, NJ 07450 next to Warner Theater Tel: 201-857-3585 | Fax: 201-443-1345 Joaillierllc@gmail.com 85 Airmont Ave • Mahwah, NJ 07430 201-529-2595 • secorfarms.com Secor Farms 4-27-11 joan/janine SecorFarmsSpring3x3(4-27-11) 3 x 3” Rev1 4-27-11 janine