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The first hearing on the wetlands
issue was heard on June 10 in front
of the Board of Adjustment.
The next meeting will
be August 12 at 7:30 at Borough Hall.
We urge people to attend these meetings
because the show of support and unity will
help sway the decision when it comes
up.
The developer started presenting
witnesses testimony on the property
and its attributes on how it will enhance
the borough. The public is not permitted
to make statements yet. The only thing
they can do is ask questions on the
topics the witnesses speak to.
Where there is a category 1 tributary,
there must be a 300' buffer on either
side. The DEP is saying this has to
be enforced. However, the developer
is asking that a 150' buffer be permitted.
This issue is still in the courts and
awaiting a decision.
The developer has intimated that
this is purely a NIMBY issue ("not in
my back yard"). This is a term developers
have created in an attempt to embarrass
surrounding homeowners. According to
the website SaveParamusWetlands.com,
"To our knowledge, the project will
affect not only Paramus residents, but
surrounding communities." This was very
evident by people from Washington Twp,
Emerson, Montvale, Oradell, Wykoff,
Westwood and several more. This, to
us, does not go to the NIMBY issue.
The website has well over 13,000 hits
and well over 500 petitions. This shows
the NIMBY issue doesn't apply.
The petitions that have been signed
on the website came from 16 different
communities, indicating this has wider
implications then just Paramus. It is
a County, State and Country issue.
Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney
has said that New Jersey is 96% built
out and, if the trend continues, NJ
will be the first state in the nation
to be completely built out. He went
further to say that we must protect
the remaining 4%.
There was a change on what sort of
housing the project would be. It was
first labeled "restricted living," which
indicates residents over 55 would be
eligible. Now, they have changed their
minds and are saying it will be "open
market," which means anyone can buy
these units.
The developer said they would clean
up the debris on their property only
if they were permitted to build.
We are not suggesting that the
developer should be denied making a living or that
anyone should be denied their dream of owning a home.
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