Status of CHCC development questioned The Save The Woods Committee was formed about a year ago as a watchdog group for the proposed adult community project at the Christian Health Care Center. Representatives of the group were present at a recent meeting of the Hawthorne Council to question what's going on with the development. "Has there been any contact by CHCC "The status is a little bit in limbo," replied Borough Attorney Michael Pasquale, "I believe they're working with Wyckoff to resolve some issues. "They did present a revised plan to the Economic Development Committee." The presentation was made in January and Perretta said he had read the EDC minutes on, the borough's website, Quoting the minutes, he said, "The committee agreed that this project would be good for Hawthorne and the community. They were happy about how CHCC handled the concerns of the neighbors and the borough." "What is the basis of fact for this conclusion," asked Perretta. "There was no vote," said Pasquale, who was one of 11 people present at the meeting. He passed off the conclusion as "maybe it's exuberance in the minutes. The Economic Development Committee is merely an advisory group. It has no power to vote." In attendance at that meeting were: Pasquale said the committee was glad that CHCC "is trying to improve the plan. The first plan was disastrous. Perhaps that's too harsh a term. It had massive buildings in people's backyards. I believe that the committee is stating that CHCC is trying to work with the neighbors." Perretta asked whether CHCC had provided a copy of its revised plan. "Is it now public," he asked. "The committee got a conceptual plan. This was not the actual plan," said the mayor, "They left renderings. They said their next move is to conduct meetings with the neighbors." Botbyl added that the purpose of the EDC is to determine the economic viability of proposed development. "Will it be on the tax rolls or will it be exempt," asked the resident. "The commitment from the CHCC is that it will be taxable," said Pasquale, "so the conclusion is that the project will be economically viable as a ratable.,, Another Save the Woods member Mary Mahon said that she had been contacting Wyckoff since last fall to see if anything is going on with the CHCC project. "I contacted the zoning office, two council members and the mayor," she said. "They don't know anything. Now you're telling me there's something going on in Wyckoff. Who should we contact." "I just heard this tonight," added Councilman Joseph Wojtecki, "I too would like to be advised." "Any discussions we've had have been informal," Pasquale responded. "There were applications to the Hawthorne and Wyckoff Zoning Boards (in 2007)'. There was never a notion that the plans were complete. This is a non conforming use. In either town, the application will have to go before the Board of Adjustment." "I've been calling both in Wyckoff and in Hawthorne," said Mahon, "Then I saw the minutes of the Economic Development Committee. Why weren't we notified." "You weren't left out, ' " answered Pasquale, "All they're doing is revising Borough Engineer Steve Boswell added that all the property owners within 200 feet would be notified. Boswell, who is also Wyckoff's borough engineer, said, "I don't believe plans were ever submitted in Wyckoff. The plans submitted in Hawthorne were so abysmal. So they went back to the drawing board. They are redesigning the plans." Mahon said she thought the original plans were submitted in Wyckoff, not in Hawthorne. "They went to the board here and were deemed incomplete," said Pasquale. Wojtecki wanted to know if Councilman Garry Sinning, the 3rd Ward representative, would get notified. This generated a discussion about whether' the Municipal Council should designate someone as liaison to the zoning board. No conclusion was reached on this issue. © The Hawthorne Press, Inc. |
