Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • September 5, 2012 Mahwah Township to host public hearing on master plan by Frank J. McMahon A public hearing on the Township of Mahwah’s updated master plan has been scheduled for Monday, Sept. 10. Officials will explain the goals, objectives, and details of the master plan, which establishes the vision for future development in Mahwah, and will describe specific land use recommendations. Comments and suggestions from the public will be accepted at the meeting, and that input may be incorporated into the final version of the master plan. The 151-page document was released to the public on Aug. 27, and is available on the township’s website at www. mahwahtwp.org. The document describes the existing land uses in the township and the township’s land use goals, objectives, and policies, and points out that the overall intent of the plan is to respect much of the existing development pattern in the township. It calls for the preservation of the rural character and larger tracts of land on the west side of the township, while at the same time enhancing the more developed eastern side of the township. In addition, the master plan focuses on enhancing the commercial areas through specific changes to the township code, and improving connectivity throughout the municipality. The plan is organized into 15 residential land use categories and 15 non-residential land use categories with planning goals for each of those categories along with land use maps. The purpose of sustainable development, according to the plan, is to promote a more sustainable environment that is using resources in such a way that it does not affect the needs of future generations. The plan also contains an environmental inventory that includes information about the township’s natural resources, including streams, floodplains, waterways, wetlands, soil characteristics, threatened species habitats, and the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. The community facilities section describes the land areas occupied by facilities in the municipality, such as the municipal building, the police department, fire department, ambulance services, department of public works, schools, the library, parks, and recreation and open space. Another section provides information about traffic, road types, public transit, and pedestrian and bicycle circulation in the township. There is also a section on historic preservation that includes a historical sites inventory. According to one chart in the master plan, there are 1,245 vacant acres in the township, 3,599 acres of detached single-family residential use, 581 acres of multi-family (apartment/townhouse) use, 297 acres of commercial use, 338 acres of office use, 377 acres of industrial use, and 444 acres of agricultural use. In addition, 383 acres are used for education, 2,538 acres are public vacant land, and 5,682 acres constitute parkland or open space. In the background data section, a chart shows that the township’s population has grown from 2,081 in 1920 to 10,800 in 1970, 24,062 in 2000, and 25,890 in 2010. Another chart shows the age characteristics in the township between 1990 and 2010, and other charts provide data on household size and type, household income, and other characteristics of the township. Rotarians aid center Bergen Highlands-Ramsey Rotarians Rev. Rob Parker, Brian Durkin, William Dator, and Kevin O-Rourke hold bags of food the Rotary Club donated to the Center for Food Action in Mahwah. Durkin organized this emergency food collection, as recent economic difficulties have greatly increased the number of people who rely on CFA for help. The Bergen Highlands-Ramsey Rotary Club has been supporting educational and charitable needs in Allendale, Mahwah, Ramsey, Saddle River, and Upper Saddle River since 1952. The Club provides college scholarships for local students and funding for local causes. Members run the children’s rides at Ramsey Day and Mahwah Day, with proceeds going toward the club’s charitable activities. The club also raises funds to support educational, medical and sanitary facilities in Nicaragua, India, and Haiti. The Bergen Highlands-Ramsey Rotary Club holds its weekly meetings on Mondays at 12:15 p.m. at Houlihan’s in Ramsey. (Photo courtesy of Tom Grissom.)