June 22, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 Mahwah Crossroads rezoning objectors mobilize support by Frank J. McMahon A group of 75 to 100 residents who oppose the rezoning of the 140-acre International Crossroads property in Mahwah recently attended a meeting at the Doubletree Hotel. The meeting was scheduled by the Committee to Stop Mahwah Mall, a group of residents who have filed a lawsuit in Superior Court seeking to nullify the Crossroads rezoning ordinances adopted by the township council in March. The rezoning ordinances changed the zoning of the property from hotel and commercial office space to a mixed retail, office space, hotel, theater, and recreational use entailing 600,000 square feet of retail space plus 150,000 square feet of office, hotel, and theater space with two big box stores on the Crossroads property with a maximum of 50,000 square feet of professional office space over the retail stores on a 300-foot pedestrian walkway. The residents who attended last week’s meeting listened to the facts the group’s leaders presented about the rezoning of the Crossroads property and the committee’s goal of placing a legal referendum on the November ballot to allow all Mahwah residents to express their support or opposition to the rezoning. Mike Richards, one of the primary organizers of the committee, emphasized that the mission of the group is to nullify the rezoning ordinances, not to just delay their implementation. “Now’s the time to speak up and make donations and get involved,” he told the crowd. Angelo Zappala, a 23-year resident of the township, gave a recap of the March 31 township council meeting when the rezoning ordinances were adopted. He pointed out that two members of the council, Lisa DiGiulio and John Spiech, voted against the adoption of the ordinances. Zappala reminded the crowd that people from the elderly residents to students, from all economic means, from Fardale to Scotch Hills, Cragmere to Rio Vista residents, and Mahwah business owners, lined up for about four hours to speak against the mall at that council meeting. They also urged a non-binding public referendum be held. Councilman Spiech made a motion to hold a non-binding refer- endum, and Councilwoman DiGiulio provided a second. However, the motion failed when the council, which had not yet filled the vacancy on the council created when John DaPuzzo was appointed mayor, ended in a tie vote. (Ordinarily, tie votes of the council are broken by the mayor.) Zappala pointed out that, after about four hours of residents’ comments against the rezoning, the motion to pass the first ordinance was made by Harry Williams and seconded by John Roth and it was adopted by a 4-2 vote of the council. (continued on page 18)