May 15, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Mahwah Board approves NY-NJ Trail Conference’s plan by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved a use variance, several waivers, and a site plan for the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference. The board’s action will allow the organization to renovate and expand the Darlington Schoolhouse on Ramapo Valley Road at the end of Darlington Avenue for use as its headquarters. Andy Norin, the attorney for the trail conference, recently presented an overview of the history of the proposed project. He said his client had obtained an exemption from the Highlands Council because the property is located in the township’s preservation zone, and was seeking a use variance and site plan approval from the zoning board. Norin advised that 27 parking spaces would be provided on-site. Additional parking will be available at the nearby Ramapo Reservation and at the adjacent Continental Soldiers Park by way of a boardwalk through the woods and a bridge over the Darlington Brook. Norin advised, however, that the trail conference would prefer to use the parking lot at Ramapo College once Bergen County installs sidewalks along Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202). “When that’s done, we won’t need the bridge,” Norin said. Edward Goodell, the executive director of the trail conference, said his organization had been in Manhattan for 80 years, but wanted to move to Mahwah to be closer to the public trails in the area. He advised that the building, when renovated, would provide more space for his employees and volunteers and would provide space for the retail sale of maps and materials for hikers. According to Goodell, there will be 17 employees in the building, although half of them would work at remote locations, plus half a dozen volunteers. The building would be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and occasionally in the evening if there is an event with a speaker. The building would also be open on weekends during park hours. Goodell said the township agreed to permit his organization to use Continental Soldiers Park for overflow, but they also have the approval of Ramapo College to park in their lots when the county installs a sidewalk from the crosswalk from the college parking lots along Route 202 to the schoolhouse. The overall restoration project, Goodell continued, includes the restoration of the structure and the architectural elements of the building to create a 21st century workplace for the trail conference, which will operate out of this site. (continued on page 12) Outstanding musicians Three Mahwah High School students were selected to perform at the All-Eastern Honors Band Concert in Hartford, Connecticut. They were chosen from among the top student musicians in 13 states from Maryland to Maine. Pictured are Mahwah’s All-Eastern Honors Band members Bret Magliola (trumpet), David Choi (oboe), and Emily Galow (French horn), and Mahwah High School Music Director Jeffrey Bittner.