SOD Seeks River Edge Support against Hekemian Project

Residents in New Milford and Oradell have banded together against a proposed development along the Madison Avenue, Main Street, River Road and John D. Cecchino Drive intersections and are now seeking support from their neighbors to the north in River Edge as well.

At the same time, the New Milford Council is still considering to rezone the property. Stop Over Development (SOD) members John Desantis and John Rutledge recently discussed how the Hekemian/United Water project would affect the people of River Edge.

"The effects of this project will be felt in River Edge from Kinderkamack Road to River Road as it is the only north and south access to the development," Desantis said. "

The proposed development calls for a 70,500 sq. ft. Shoprite supermarket, 4300 sq. ft. bank, and a four-story 221 unit multi-family housing complex with a 428-space multi-level parking garage on a 13-acre lot that is currently owned by United Water. 

While zoned as a single-family residence, the developer Peter Hekemian has offered to remove the housing complex from the plans and revert to his original proposal, route: {:controller=>"articles", :action=>"show", :id=>"developer-presents-commercial-use-of-united-water-property"} --> for a 145-space parking lot for use by the borough and school district, and a graded field that could be developed into a soccer field, as well as a new Shoprite, a family restaurant, bank and 10,000 square feet of commercial space for local merchants. His proposal is contigent upon the New Milford Mayor and Council  on housing values,  there would not be any additional flooding to the area due to the installation of two detention system basins on the south end of the property, infiltration systems and  to reduce the rate of surface runoff and would , 930 River Road, New Milford for additional testimony by traffic expert Elizabeth Dolan. At a previos meeting,