Mahwah
September 26, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5
Township slates economic development meeting
by Frank J. McMahon The Township of Mahwah has scheduled an Oct. 11 public meeting to brainstorm and strategize ways to create a plan for the municipality’s economic future. The meeting will be held in the senior citizen center behind the Richard J. Martel Municipal Building on Corporate Drive at 7 p.m. During the meeting, a special focus will be placed on the Route 17 and Franklin Turnpike corridors. The township received a $20,000 grant in March 2012 to complete a sustainable economic development plan, which is one of the optional elements within the township’s master plan that is currently being considered by the planning board. The plan can be broadly described as containing efforts and activities aimed at increasing the local tax base, providing new employment opportunities, and improving the overall economic and social sustainability of a community. “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 stated in a press release. “The challenge is finding the balance between capitalizing upon and protecting these community assets.” Laforet advised that sustainable economic development is described by the New Jersey Highlands Council as maintaining and expanding the existing job and economic base by promoting appropriate, sustainable, and environmentally compatible economic development. 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. Therefore, such a plan should call for economic growth to be accommodated in a manner that takes careful advantage of the unique and valuable built and natural
resources of the township. Laforet explained that the project will consist of four phases. The first phase will be primarily background research on existing economic conditions within Mahwah. The second phase will involve public outreach. To that end, Maser Consulting, the township’s professional planning firm, has crafted a survey for business owners and another for customers to gather valuable information from the public. According to Laforet the information obtained through the surveys will be used in formulating the final document. Both surveys are presently posted on the township’s website www.mahwahtwp.org. The third phase, Laforet said, will be the Oct. 11 public workshop. All members of the public are invited. The fourth, and final, phase will be the creation of a draft sustainable economic development plan.
Taking flight
Mahwah residents Amanda Ford and Isabelle Garino recently participated in the Third Annual New York Jets Junior Flight Crew Cheer Camp. They cheered at halftime with the New York Jets Flight Crew at a recent preseason game between the New York Jets and the New York Giants. Pictured are Courtney Ford, Isabelle Garino, Amanda Ford, and Ryan Ford.