December 19, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Mahwah Property gift authorized by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Council has adopted an ordinance that authorizes the township’s attorney to execute all the documents necessary to complete the acquisition of a 0.7-acre piece of property. The land was recently subdivided from an 11.4-acre, two lot property located in the Ramapo Hunt and Polo Club Association residential zone on Halifax Road by the Ramapo River. The small piece of land was offered to the township as a gift by the current owners of the main portion of the property, Craig and Patricia Clifford, in connection with a subdivision of their land, which consolidated two lots into one. That subdivision was approved by the township’s planning board on Aug. 20. The planning board also recommended the acquisition of the small subdivided piece of land after reviewing the ordinance authorizing that acquisition. According to the ordinance, the property is being acquired by the township for the purpose of preserving open space for Mahwah residents. The taxes due to the township will be adjusted as of the date of the transfer of title. In July, the Mahwah Planning Board approved an application for the subdivision with variances of a two lot property that was owned by the Cliffords. One of the two lots was 4.84 acres and contained a four bedroom, six bathroom home. The other lot was a 6.55-acre vacant property. Both lots have frontage on Halifax Road and back up to the Ramapo River and are contiguous with property currently owned by the township that is used for conservation and utility purposes. The Cliffords purchased the property in 2005. The previous owner had received approval of a site plan for single family houses on both lots, and all the required environmental permits were received. Craig Clifford explained to the planning board that an issue with the Ramapo Hunt and Polo Club Association arose about the plan, but ultimately, an agreement was reached in June 2011 that permitted the construction of the homes as designed. Clifford said his alternate plan was acceptable to the association. That plan called for the consolidation of the lot on which his home was located with the vacant lot and the construction of a barn on the larger lot with a garage for family use and no animals. The Cliffords sought the board’s approval to consolidate the two lots with the construction of a barn on one of the lots with a variance for the height of the barn. They also requested a subdivision of a piece of land from the main portion of the currently vacant lot located on the opposite side of the Ramapo River. In addition, they requested a variance for the area of the barn, which will be 1,244 square feet in size, plus a covered porch of 679 square feet, although the maximum square footage of any accessory structure, except a storage shed, in a residential area is 1,000 square feet. The board unanimously approved the plan for the consolidation of the two lots and the construction of a barn with variances, and the subdivision of the small lot which was to be donated to the township. Top team The fourth grade travel team from Mahwah coached by Neil Kurtz and Paul Peltekian competed in the Pascack Invitational Tournament, also known as ‘The PIT.’ Mahwah defeated River Vale 26-13 in the championship game held at the Fieldstone School in Montvale.