Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • November 20, 2013 Franklin Lakes Council approves mediation agreement for golf course The Franklin Lakes Council has approved a mediation agreement to resolve differences regarding future devel- opment of the High Mountain Golf Course. The agree- ment concerns the borough, and the property owners. Borough Administrator Gregory Hart noted that the agreement has been reviewed and approved by both Bor- ough Attorney William K. Smith and the Affordable Housing Attorney. Smith explained that the mediation considers how to meet Franklin Lakes’ affordable hous- ing requirements in the development of the 131-acre golf course property by Toll Brothers, Inc. Mayor Frank Bivona inquired what protections the agreement would provide to the borough. Smith responded that it would ensure that any plan finally enacted would be built as presented by the developer, though it could still be subject to objections by third parties challeng- ing, for example, the density level of the planned housing development. Upon the council’s unanimous approval of the media- tion agreement, the Council moved on to introduce Ordinance 1579, which concerns the amendment of the borough’s code to establish a PRD-2 planned residence district-2 zoning district. In the course of more than a year of negotiations, the council has rejected two previous development proposals for the golf course property. At its Nov. 7 work session, the governing body heard from several expert witnesses and agreed to consider a revised third proposal. To do so, the council moved to introduce Ordinance 1579, which would amend establish the PRD-2 zone for the golf course parcel. The introduction of this ordinance puts the plan on the table for review. The proposal will be forwarded to the planning board, which has 35 days to consider and hold public hearings on the proposed new zoning. If approved by the planning board, the ordinance would return to the council for further consideration and adoption before the site could be developed. Ordinance 1579 states that the purpose of the PRD-2 District is to “provide standards that will support the bor- ough’s growing demand for a variety of housing types in a manner that is sensitive to the environmental features in the district. Additionally, development in this district is intended to assist the borough to meet its affordable housing obligation and to implement the affordable hous- ing/COAH Mediation Agreement for lands within the district.” Principal permitted uses allowed in the PRD-2 District would include detached single-family dwellings, townhouse dwelling units, multi-family affordable dwell- ing units, municipal buildings and uses, recreational uses, pump/lift stations and utility structures, and storm water management facilities, including detention ponds. Franklin Lakes Boy Scout Troop 34 of Franklin Lakes will hold its annual Christmas Tree Sale on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Nov. 30. The nursery grown trees will be sold at the Franklin Lakes United Methodist Church at 454 Pulis Avenue. Wreaths and roping for the holiday season will also be available. The sale will con- tinue through Dec 22. by Maja Britton Boy Scouts hold Christmas Tree Sale Administrator Hart announced that the full text of the ordinance, the mediation agreement, and support docu- ments would be available to the public on the borough’s website. A residential mix of 60 single-family detached homes on half-acre lots, 160 carriage homes with garages, and 55 affordable housing units without garages, totaling 275 dwellings, is being tentatively planned for the High Mountain Golf Course property. The plan has been the subject of discussion between borough officials and the contract purchaser of the prop- erty since March of 2012, when the sale of the golf course was made public by the current owners. The Galenkamp Brothers Partnership and High Mountain Club, Inc., which includes about 75 sharehold- ers, some of whom are members of the McBride family, are the current owners. The lease of the property for use as a golf course does not expire until the end of the 2014 golf season. The property is currently zoned for one-acre lots, which could produce about a 100 homes, but the devel- oper wants higher density on the site and the reason the borough would agree to higher density is to avoid going to court and having a judge require even a greater density than has been tentatively agreed to at this time. Bivona previously pointed out that there is already an instance in the borough where eight units to the acre has been required by a court and, if that were imposed on this site, it could result in 1,000 dwelling units. Tentative plans call for one road weaving through the housing complex from Ewing Avenue to Franklin Lake Road with no other entrances or exits. The buildings would be no more than two-and-a-half stories and 40 feet high. This article includes reporting by F. J. McMahon.