Mahwah November 7, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Public provides additional master plan input by Frank J. McMahon Mahwah residents continued to provide opinions and suggestions about the final version of the township’s updated master plan at a recent planning board meeting. The master plan was prepared by Professional Planner Joseph Burgis, who was contracted in 2006 to develop an updated plan for the township. He presented the final version to the township’s planning board and the public in September after about two-and-a-half years of work and about 20 public meetings that were held to ensure that the updated plan reflected the concerns of the municipality. Several residents have voiced their opinions about various aspects of the master plan and expressed their agreement with the recommendation to restrict big box stores in the township, to keep the office park zoning of the Crossroads property, and to develop a safe bicycle path in the township. They have expressed concern, however, about a section of the master plan that recommends that the Franklin Turnpike area from the New York State border to King Street be developed into a more centralized business area with pedestrian walkways and more landscaping. Audrey Artusio, who lives on Miller Road, told the board she is opposed to increased intensity in the area of Miller Road and Franklin Turnpike. She claimed that other residents of the Cragmere section of the township are also opposed to more development in that area. Artusio expressed a specific concern about the area including the U.S. Post Office, which she said has been purchased by a new developer. She expressed her concern that the developer will want to construct three-story buildings and double-decker parking structures in the area, which she emphasized is used by Cragmere residents to travel from that part of the township under the railroad trestle to Route 17 and the schools on Ridge Road. Artusio predicted that the developer would need more density in that area in order to make it economically feasible to build there. She asked that any reference to three-story buildings in that area be removed from the master plan. Artusio also said she is concerned about the increased traffic in her area that will be created by the Crossroads Mall, if it is approved. She voiced the opinion that the township does not need more town centers. “I don’t think we should encourage that,” she said, adding, “Why isn’t the Fardale section of the township included as an area for development?” Township Engineer Michael Kelly advised that the post office area in question is in the B10 zone, which is already zoned for three-story buildings. Josephine “Joey” Bourgholtzer, who lives on Hillside Avenue at the top of King Street, which is across Franklin Turnpike from the area Artusio discussed, said she also wants to exclude development on that part of Franklin Turnpike. Bourgholtzer said the 26 square acre township was not designed to have a single downtown area. “Mahwah can’t be designed that way,” Bourgholtzer said. “It is too spread out and there is nothing wrong with having little town centers. There is no room in our little downtown area which is already burdened with traffic that cuts through King Street to circumvent that area.” Lynne McLewin, who also lives on Miller Road, asked if senior housing is included in the master plan. Burgis advised that there is language in the master plan that states senior housing will be needed in the future, but no specific site is identified for it. Cyclist Frederick Stedtler of West Ramapo Avenue talked about the difficulty of getting to the Stag Hill area on his bicycle, and Burgis advised him that the master plan does encourage cycling and identifies a few potential routes. Robin Larsen, who lives on Babcock Road and described herself as a concerned citizen, used a PowerPoint presentation to detail her concern about a United Nations program known as Agenda 21. Agenda 21 was developed at the first UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, known as the Earth Summit, which claimed that sustainable development could not be achieved by governments alone. That United Nations program formalized the concept of harnessing expertise and capacity from all sectors of society and all types of people: consumers, workers, business owners, farmers, students, teachers, researchers, activists, indigenous peoples, and other communities of interest by recognizing nine sectors of society as the main channels through which citizens could organize and participate in international efforts to achieve sustainable development through the United Nations. Larsen voiced concern about certain elements of Agenda 21, which she called “radical” and “destructive” and she cautioned the board the there are elements of that program in the township’s master plan. She recommended that the master plan be reviewed to avoid having those elements covertly forced on the township. Richard Wolf, chairman of the Mahwah Environmental Commission, asked when the plan would be finalized. Planning Board Chairman Todd DeSherer said no timetable has been set, and predicted it would probably be early 2013 because the board wants the public to have time to voice their views.