Mahwah October 31, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Residents provide input on economic development by Frank J. McMahon Approximately 60 Mahwah residents attended a recent workshop to provide their input about the township’s economic development. The session was held the senior center at the Richard J. Martel Municipal Building. “This is an important concept in a municipality with more than 7,600 acres of county and state parkland, 20 historical homes and structures, three archeological/prehistoric sites, and two historic districts,” Mayor William Laforet said in a press release about the meeting. “The challenge is finding the balance between capitalizing upon and protecting these community assets.” The meeting was conducted by the township’s professional planning firm, Maser Consulting, PA, which provided the residents and some township officials the opportunity to indicate through a series of exercises where they believe economic development should occur and where it should be avoided. The planning firm’s Darlene Green explained that, in March, the township received approval from the New Jersey Highlands Council to proceed with a $20,000 grant to complete a Sustainable Economic Development Plan. She explained that, according to the Highlands Council’s Regional Master Plan, the objective of a sustainable economic development plan is to ensure long-term, sustainable economic viability, not short-term economic activity, and the Highlands Council points out that economic growth should be accommodated in a manner that takes careful advantage of the township’s unique and valuable built and (continued on page 13) Soles 4 Soles is success George Washington School in Mahwah collected gently used shoes to donate to underprivileged children and adults around the world. Pictured are George Washington School students next to the bin of shoes that will be donated to the Soles 4 Souls Program.