Mahwah December 18, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 7 Crossroads developer ends retail mall testimony by Frank J. McMahon Crossroads Developers Associates, Inc has ended its presentation of testimony about the retail mall it wants to build in Mahwah. The developer plans to construct a 600,000 square foot retail center with two big box stores, a 10-plex theater, 200,000 square feet of retail shops along a pedestrian ori- ented corridor, and an athletic field on the 140-acre Inter- national Crossroads property at the intersection of Routes 17 and 287. James Jaworski, the attorney for Crossroads, announced the end of the testimony toward the end of last week’s plan- ning board meeting. The board has been hearing that testi- mony since February 2012. The public hearing was carried to Jan. 27, 2014, at which time the public will be allowed to voice their comments on the mall proposal. Mahwah Planning Board Attorney Peter Scandariato advised the public about that process. “On the 27 th , anyone who wants to present evidence, testimony, or witnesses, if you like, this is the time to do it,” Scandariato said. He explained that anyone speaking will be sworn in, and Jaworski will have the right to cross examine anyone who speaks at that meeting. “Following that, it will be up to the board if a vote is taken that night,” Scandariato said. Planning Board Chairman Todd Sherer said he would not put a time limit on the speakers, but would use his judgment in that case. He said he would make sure there are no repetitive comments. He also said he did not see a need to change the location of the public hearing based on the number of the members of the public who have been attending the meetings and who will probably attend the Jan. 27 meeting. The board did vote in favor of a motion to change the starting time of the planning board meetings from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. starting in January 2014 to ensure that all board members can be present at the start of the sessions. Earlier in the meeting, Jaworski read an Oct. 7, 2013 letter from Police Chief James Batelli to Jaworski in which the chief addressed the security measures planned for this site. Batelli stated there is no factual basis to show this devel- opment would create violent crime and there are no facts to show there would be an increase in crime on any basis. He stated that, based on the plans presented by the developer, it would be a safe development and would not have a negative impact in terms of crime. Batelli did not offer an opinion on the proposal to build an athletic field on the site, but he stated that there is no data to support the claim that juveniles would be exposed to danger at this site any more than they would at other fields in the township. “These recreational facilities are very safe for parents and children,” Batelli stated. Charles “Chuck” Jandris stated that he thought Batelli’s letter was outdated and he asked why it took two months to get it to the planning board. Jaworski said there had not been a prior meeting about security at which to discuss that letter. Chuck Dietz, an architect for the developer, also showed visual images of what the buildings at the mall may look like using photos of the buildings at another Crossroads retail mall in Pennsylvania. He also described the lighting (continued on page 10)