Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • March 28, 2012 Mahwah King Street property rezoned for business use by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Council has adopted an ordinance that rezones eight lots in the Block 82 area north of King Street from the GI-80 industrial zone into the adjacent B-10 neighborhood business zone located north and east of these lots. All members of the council voted to adopt the ordinance except Councilman Harry Williams. Williams said that, while he agrees that this section would benefit from some rehabilitation, he is opposed to adding more retail space on Franklin Turnpike in light of what he described as the “devastating” impact the Crossroads retail development might have on retail businesses on Franklin Turnpike. The B-10 neighborhood business zone permits a variety of retail and service commercial uses, restaurants, offices, public, and partly-public uses. The GI-80 industrial zone permits industrial uses, including research laboratories, manufacturing, warehouses, distribution terminals, lumber and building supply sales, and wholesale businesses. The eight lots are currently being used for a residential purpose. Mahwah’s planner, Joseph Layton of Maser Consulting, explained in a report to the council that the property contains 11,000 square feet with 100 feet of frontage on King Street and a well-maintained two-story single-family dwelling. The existing GI-80 zone in the area extends from these lots and the adjacent Foods by George company property to the area south of King Street along Siding Place and west of Franklin Turnpike where the Rutan Plastic Bag manufacturing company is located. The eight-lot property is the only remaining residential property in Block 82, because several other vacant dwellings on properties within that block, which are owned by the Mahwah Town Center, LLC, were recently demolished and the Feuersenger Electric contractors building and offices located east of the eight-lot property is already in the B-10 zone. The Foods by George property to the west of the eight lots is currently in the GI80 zone. Layton said it would be appropriate for that business to be in the B-10 zone because it is both an industrial product distribution and commercial bakery and a retail use which would be a permitted use in the B-10 zone. The ordinance will permit the township to move the B-10 zone line south to include the eight lots and the Foods by George property so the entire Block 82 area from East Ramapo Avenue, including the post office and the adjacent bank property, to King Street between Franklin Turnpike and Siding Place, would be in the B-10 zone. The rezoning was requested in 2009 by Maureen Postolowski, the owner of the eight lots. No action was taken at that time because the council wanted to conduct a “more global comprehensive assessment of the entire area” in light of township’s ongoing effort to prepare a new master plan. In addition, Mahwah Town Center, LLC, was then preparing a conceptual development plan of retail uses and condominiums for the balance of Block 82. Mahwah Town Center has not moved forward with its conceptual plans, and the township’s master plan has not yet been completed. The council decided to reconsider Postolowski’s request, and introduced the nowapproved ordinance in February. The ordinance was reviewed by the township’s planning board, whose members determined that the rezoning was consistent with the current master plan. Team wins division Mahwah’s third grader travel basketball team finished the season with a 13-1 record, beating second seeded Oradell 31-16 to win the Bergen Travel Basketball Army Division. Coach Neil Kurtz said the boys have plaed excellent defense all year and showed strong offense at the end. Kurtz said the boys should be proud of their accomplishments. Kneeling: Landon Kurtz, Nick Cavegn, Grant Pallokat, Kyle Springer, and Jake LaVigna. Middle row: Nick Mazzella, Patrick Doran, Jonah Pingue, Nick Peltekian, John Wright, and Malachy Henriques. Back row: Coach Paul Peltekian, Coach Anthony Mazzella, and Coach Neil Kurtz. Not pictured: JT Kehoe and Coach Jack Kehoe.