Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-February 9, 2011 Issue

Mahwah February 9, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Council delays vote on Crossroads rezoning by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Council has delayed its vote on the introduction of three ordinances pertaining to the rezoning of the International Crossroads property. The 140-acre parcel is located at the northern end of Mahwah on the site of the Sheraton Hotel. The introduction of those ordinances is now scheduled for the council’s public meeting on Thursday, Feb. 10. One measure, known as the “Crossroads Town Center Overlay Zone” ordinance, would create a new zone for the property. Another ordinance would establish security requirements, including a commercial security force to be provided by the property owner depending on the number of square feet of space being occupied at the site. The third ordinance would create a new section in the township code to set the per-square-foot fees that must be paid by the retail, office space, hotel, or commercial recreation occupants of the town center. The rezoning would permit 600,000 square feet of retail floor space at the Crossroads site, including a 60,000 square foot theater, 50,000 square feet of professional office space, and a 100,000 square foot hotel at the site with an overall maximum development of 750,000 square feet. The fees collected when the project is fully built would total $6,750,000. The developer, Crossroads Developers, LLC, is guaranteeing that the township will receive at least $3.5 million from the impact fees collected under the proposed fee ordinance. The council decided to hold off on introducing the three ordinances in order to provide time for Township Attorney Terry Bottinelli to make several revisions that were agreed upon at a special council meeting on Jan. 31. At that meeting, the council voted 4-3 not to explain to the public the issue that was discussed in the closed session held prior to the special meeting. The council members voting to explain the issue to the public were John Spiech, Lisa DiGiulio, and Roy Larson. Those who voted not to explain the issue to the public were Council President John DaPuzzo, and Council Members John Roth, Harry Williams, and Samuel Alderisio. Most of the special meeting was devoted to questions about details of the draft ordinances that were raised by council members. Several recommendations were made to change some of those details. The draft ordinances will not be released to the public until they are introduced, so it is not clear exactly what the details are or what changes were recommended. The balance of the meeting was devoted to comments from the public. Sixteen of the 40 residents who attended the meeting voiced their opinions of the proposed rezoning. Fourteen of them spoke out against it, while two voiced their support. Those who voiced their opposition to the rezoning proposal cited the potential for increased traffic and crime at the Crossroads site and in the township, and potential drainage problems. Those who voiced support for the rezoning claimed that one of the proposed ordinances will mitigate the increased traffic that may result from the project, and that the developer intends to build a “class shopping center,” so the council should vote for it. The council members have expressed mixed opinions of the project. DaPuzzo acknowledged that the Friday night traffic problem that occurs in the township on Route 17 near the Crossroads property will not be fixed by this project. He said he did not think that traffic problem would ever be fixed. He claimed, however, that the traffic drawn to this retail center would be traffic that is already in the area, and he is not convinced the project would increase the traffic on the side streets. He also highlighted the millions in tax revenue the proj- ect would bring to the township. The councilman explained that, if the developer applied to the township’s board of adjustment to expand the existing site under the current zoning of the property, the township would not get the benefit and protection proposed in the rezoning ordinances. Spiech disagreed, claiming that most people in the township don’t want the rezoning. He said the township’s obligation is not to make sure a developer makes money, but rather to protect the residents. He questioned why the council was moving forward on the rezoning. He also indicated that he would prefer to wait for a use like the Stryker Corporation on Route 17 or the New York Stock Exchange on Macarthur Boulevard for the Crossroads site. DiGiulio voiced concern about the potential traffic the retail center would create, and questioned if this was the best ratable for the site. She suggested that the township hold a non-binding referendum to find out if the residents want this rezoning. 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